UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d)
of The Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
DATE OF REPORT:
March 20, 2025
(Date of Earliest Event Reported)
Massachusetts
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
1-9047 | 04-2870273 | |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer identification No.) |
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
Office Address: 2036 Washington Street, Hanover, Massachusetts 02339 |
Mailing Address: 288 Union Street, Rockland, Massachusetts 02370 |
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
NOT APPLICABLE
(Former Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(781)-878-6100
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each Class |
Trading Symbol |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
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Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share | INDB | NASDAQ Global Select Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act (17CFR 230.405)) or Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.12b-2).
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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
ITEM 1.01 | ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT |
On March 25, 2025, Independent Bank Corp. (the “Company”) completed the issuance and sale (the “Offering”) of $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued under the Indenture, dated as of March 25, 2025 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 25, 2025 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes are set forth in, and such Notes are governed by, the Indenture.
The Offering was completed pursuant to the prospectus, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File Number: 333-281375) (the “Registration Statement”), dated August 8, 2024, as supplemented by a preliminary prospectus supplement dated March 20, 2025 and a final prospectus supplement dated March 20, 2025, and a free writing prospectus dated March 20, 2025.
The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes were $297.0 million before deducting estimated offering expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include redeeming Enterprise Bancorp, Inc.’s (“Enterprise”) fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due July 15, 2030 following the consummation of the Company’s merger with Enterprise.
From and including the date of issuance to, but excluding, April 1, 2030 or the date of earlier redemption, the Notes will bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.25% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing on October 1, 2025. Thereafter, from and including April 1, 2030, to, but excluding, the maturity date, April 1, 2035, or the date of earlier redemption, the Notes will bear interest at a floating rate per year equal to a Benchmark rate, which is expected to be Three-Month Term SOFR (each as defined in the Indenture), plus 353 basis points, payable quarterly in arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing on July 1, 2030. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Benchmark rate is less than zero, then the Benchmark rate shall be deemed to be zero.
The Notes are the Company’s unsecured, subordinated obligations and (i) rank junior in right of payment and upon the Company’s liquidation to any of the Company’s existing and future senior indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture), whether secured or unsecured; (ii) rank equal in right of payment and upon our liquidation with any of the Company’s future subordinated indebtedness the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks equally with promissory notes, bonds, debentures and other evidence of indebtedness of types that include the Notes; (iii) rank senior in right of payment and upon the Company’s liquidation to (A) the Company’s existing junior subordinated debentures underlying outstanding trust preferred securities, and (B) any indebtedness the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks junior to promissory notes, bonds, debentures and other types of indebtedness that include the Notes; and (iv) are structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future indebtedness, deposits and other liabilities of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Rockland Trust Company (“Rockland Trust”) and the Company’s other current and future subsidiaries, including, without limitation, Rockland Trust’s liabilities to depositors in connection with the deposits in Rockland Trust, its liabilities to general creditors and its liabilities arising during the ordinary course or otherwise.
The Notes may be redeemed at the Company’s option under certain circumstances, as described in the Indenture.
The foregoing summary of the terms of the Underwriting Agreement (defined below), the Indenture and the Notes does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of (i) the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) the Base Indenture, (iii) the Supplemental Indenture and (iv) the form of the Notes, each of which is attached hereto as an exhibit and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 2.03 | CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT |
The information set forth in Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
ITEM 8.01 | OTHER INFORMATION |
In connection with the Offering, the Company and Rockland Trust entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated as of March 20, 2025 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. and Piper Sandler & Co. The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, and customary closing conditions, indemnification rights and termination provisions.
ITEM 9.01 | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS |
d. The following exhibits are included with this Report:
Exhibit Index
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned and hereunto duly authorized.
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP. | ||||||
Date: March 25, 2025 |
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By: | /s/ Patricia M. Natale |
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PATRICIA M. NATALE | ||||||
GENERAL COUNSEL |
Exhibit 1.1
$300,000,000
Independent Bank Corp.
7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2035
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
March 20, 2025
KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC.
787 Seventh Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10019
PIPER SANDLER & CO.
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10020
As representatives of the Underwriters listed in Schedule A hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Independent Bank Corp., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “Underwriters”) pursuant to the terms set forth herein (this “Agreement”) $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2035 (the “Securities”). The Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture, to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below) (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture thereto relating to the Securities, to be dated as of the Closing Date, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (“KBW”) and Piper Sandler & Co. (“Piper Sandler”) have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.
To the extent there are no additional underwriters listed on Schedule A, the term “Representatives” as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the term “Underwriters” shall mean either the singular or the plural, as the context requires.
The Company has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 8, 2024 (as amended, modified or supplemented, if applicable, to the date hereof, the “Merger Agreement”), with Enterprise Bancorp, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (“Enterprise”), Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts-chartered trust company and wholly owned subsidiary of Enterprise (“Enterprise Bank”), and Rockland Trust Company, a Massachusetts-chartered trust company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Rockland Trust”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to acquire Enterprise.
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The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Enterprise will merge with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving entity (the “Merger”). The Merger Agreement further provides that following the Merger, Enterprise Bank will merge with and into Rockland Trust, with Rockland Trust as the surviving entity.
The Company has prepared and filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined under Rule 405 (“Rule 405”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on Form S-3 (File No. 333-281375) covering the public offering and sale from time to time of certain securities of the Company, including the Securities, under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”), which automatic shelf registration statement became effective upon filing with the Commission under Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 462(e)”). Such registration statement, as of any time, means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereto at such time (excluding the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1), including the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 430B”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; provided, that the “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereto as of the time of the first contract of sale for the Securities, which time shall be considered the “new effective date” of the Registration Statement with respect to the Securities within the meaning of Rule 430B(f)(2), including the exhibits and schedules thereto as of such time (excluding the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1), the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B. Each preliminary prospectus supplement and the base prospectus used in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), are collectively referred to herein as a “preliminary prospectus.” Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 424(b)”). The final prospectus supplement and the base prospectus, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), are collectively referred to herein as the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (or any successor system) (“EDGAR”).
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As used in this Agreement:
“Applicable Time” means 3:45 p.m., New York City time, on March 20, 2025 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means (a) the “Term Sheet” (as defined below) and (b) any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including, without limitation, any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) relating to the Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering thereof that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).
“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B hereto.
“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.
“Pricing Disclosure Package” means each Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus and the most recent preliminary prospectus furnished to the Underwriters for general distribution to investors prior to the Applicable Time, all considered together.
“Term Sheet” means a pricing term sheet substantially in the form of Schedule C hereto.
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules and other information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the Applicable Time; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”) incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, at or after the Applicable Time.
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SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter at the date hereof, the Applicable Time and the Closing Date, and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:
(i) Compliance of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and Incorporated Documents. At the original effectiveness of the Registration Statement and at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), the Company met the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement under Rule 405, and the offer and sale of the Securities is registered by the Company on such automatic shelf registration statement. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective under the Securities Act and the initial effective date of the Registration Statement is not more than three years before the date of this Agreement. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the Securities Act, no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 401(g)(2)”) has been received by the Company, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.
Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time of its effectiveness, as of each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2), and at the Closing Date, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Trust Indenture Act. Each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed or is hereafter filed with the Commission and at the Closing Date complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and are and will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, when they became effective or at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations.
(ii) Accurate Disclosure. Neither the Registration Statement nor any post-effective amendment thereto, at its effective time and at the Closing Date contained or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. At the Applicable Time, neither (A) the Pricing Disclosure Package nor (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its issue date and at the Closing Date, included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became effective or when such incorporated documents were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. There are no statutes, regulations, documents or contracts of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, which are not described or filed as required. There are no business relationships or related person transactions involving the Company or any Subsidiary (as defined herein) or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that have not been described as required.
The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto or the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein. For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the information in the (i) second and third sentences of the third paragraph, (ii) third and fourth sentences of the first paragraph under the subheading “No Public Trading Markets” and (iii) first and sixth sentences of the first paragraph under the subheading “Stabilization” each under the heading “Underwriting,” in each case, contained in the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).
(iii) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, that has not been superseded or modified. If, at any time prior to or as of the Closing Date and following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement or as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if republished immediately following such event or development, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (A) the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives thereof and (B) the Company has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
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(iv) Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (A) At the original effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 163”)) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 and (D) at the Applicable Time, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.
(v) Company Not Ineligible Issuer. (A) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, (B) at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act Regulations) of the Securities and (C) at the Applicable Time, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405. The Company has paid the registration fee for this offering pursuant to Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act or will pay such fee within the time period required by such rule (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.
(vi) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, the accounting firm that certified the financial statements and supporting schedules of the Company that are included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is (i) an independent public accountant as required by the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”), (ii) a registered public accounting firm, as defined by the PCAOB, which has not had its registration superseded or revoked and which has not requested that such registration be withdrawn, and (iii) with respect to the Company, is not and has not been in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and the rules and regulations of the Commission.
(vii) Financial Statements; Non-GAAP Financial Measures. The financial statements of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (as defined below) included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (as defined below) at the respective dates and for the respective periods specified. The financial statements of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (as defined below), at or for the dates indicated, have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference therein in all material respects.
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Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus. To the extent applicable, all disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, if any, regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is updated as necessary to comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto and present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations and changes in financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”) on the basis stated in the Registration Statement at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which they apply.
(viii) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse effect, or any development that would be reasonably expected to result in a material adverse effect, (i) on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, properties, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity, assets, liabilities or results of operations, of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business or (ii) in the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under, and to consummate the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement (each of (i) and (ii) a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) except for ordinary course changes in deposits or regular short-term draws on available lines of credit, there has not been any (x) material change in the capital stock or (y) any material change in the short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries other than advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (the “FHLB”) or borrowings from the Federal Reserve (as defined below), (C) there have been no transactions entered into by, and no obligations or liabilities, contingent or otherwise, incurred by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, which are material to the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, other than the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (D) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock and there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock other than regular quarterly cash dividends paid on the Company’s common stock or (E) there has been no material loss or interference with the Company’s business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, in each case, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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(ix) Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(x) Good Standing of Subsidiaries. Rockland Trust is a trust company chartered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the charter of Rockland Trust is in full force and effect. Rockland Trust is the only “significant subsidiary” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) (the “Significant Subsidiary”) and is the only depositary institution subsidiary of the Company. Each subsidiary (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company (each, a “Subsidiary”) has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation or other organization in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, formation or organization, has the requisite corporate or organizational power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other business entity to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except (i) as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (ii) Goddard Ave Securities Corp., a Subsidiary, and (iii) Rockland Trust (in connection with any assets pledged to the Federal Reserve), all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through Subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary was issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any security holder of such Subsidiary arising by operation of law, or under the articles of organization, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary or under any agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party. Except for the Subsidiaries, the Company does not own beneficially, directly or indirectly, more than five percent (5%) of any class of equity securities or similar interests in any corporation, business trust, association or similar organization, and is not, directly or indirectly, a partner in any partnership or party to any joint venture.
(xi) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company and consolidated long-term debt (i.e., a maturity greater than one year) as of December 31, 2024 is as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in the column entitled “Actual” under the caption “Capitalization” (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus).
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The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights of any security holder of the Company arising by operation of law, or under the articles of organization, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary or under any agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party. There have been no long-term borrowings by the Company or its consolidated Subsidiaries since such date.
(xii) Authorization of Agreement. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; and all corporate action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly and validly taken. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(xiii) Authorization, Validity and Enforceability of Indenture and Securities. The Indenture will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee, the Indenture will constitute a valid, legal and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). The Indenture has been, and at the Closing Date will be, duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed by the Company, and when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in the manner provided for in the Indenture, and issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will constitute valid, legal and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). The Securities will be in the form contemplated by, and will be entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture. The description of the Indenture contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the Indenture, constitute accurate description of the terms of the Indenture in all material respects.
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(xiv) Summaries of Legal Matters. The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes” and under the captions “Regulation” and “Legal Proceedings” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, insofar as they purport to describe legal matters or provisions of the laws and regulations or documents referred to therein, are accurate and complete in all material respects; and the statements set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”, insofar as they purport to summarize certain federal income tax laws of the United States, constitute an accurate summary of the principal U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities in all material respects.
(xv) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. The Company is not in violation of its Restated Articles of Organization (the “Charter”), or Amended and Restated By-laws (the “Bylaws”); none of the Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter, bylaws or other organizational documents and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), or in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except for such violations or defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Indenture and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein, and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect); nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Charter or Bylaws of the Company or the charter, bylaws or other organizational document of any Subsidiary; nor will such action result in any violation of any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their assets, properties or operations (except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect). As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any Subsidiary.
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(xvi) Nasdaq Compliance. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of The Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) for continued listing of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), thereon. The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or the listing of the Common Stock on Nasdaq, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or Nasdaq is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not contravene the rules or regulations of Nasdaq.
(xvii) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent. The Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or any Subsidiary, which, in either case, would, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor the Significant Subsidiary is engaged in any unfair labor practice. Except for matters which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (A) there is (1) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or the Significant Subsidiary before the National Labor Relations Board or any similar domestic or foreign body, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, (2) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or the Significant Subsidiary and (3) no union representation dispute currently existing concerning the employees of the Company or the Significant Subsidiary, (B) to the Company’s knowledge, no union organizing activities are currently taking place concerning the employees of the Company or the Significant Subsidiary and (C) there has been no violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, any applicable wage or hour laws or any provision of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”) or any similar domestic or foreign law or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder concerning the employees of the Company or the Significant Subsidiary.
(xviii) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement (other than as disclosed therein), or which, if determined adversely to the Company or any Subsidiary, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, if determined adversely to the Company or any Subsidiary, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(xix) Bank Holding Company Act. The Company has been duly registered, and meets in all material respects the applicable requirements for qualification, as a bank holding company under the applicable provisions of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.
(xx) Compliance with Bank Regulatory Authorities. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations (including, without limitation, all applicable regulations and orders) of, or agreements with, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) and the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks, as applicable (collectively, the “Bank Regulatory Authorities”), the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Community Reinvestment Act (the “CRA”), the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Bank Secrecy Act and Title III of the USA Patriot Act, to the extent such laws or regulations apply to the Company or Rockland Trust, as applicable. The Company and Rockland Trust have no knowledge of any facts and circumstances, and have no reason to believe that any facts or circumstances exist, that could cause Rockland Trust (A) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the CRA and the regulations promulgated thereunder or to be assigned a CRA rating by federal or state banking regulators of lower than “satisfactory,” or (B) to be deemed to be operating in violation, in any material respect, of the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 as amended by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (or otherwise known as the “Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act”), the USA Patriot Act or any order issued with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws (as defined below). As of December 31, 2024, each of the Company and Rockland Trust met or exceeded the standards necessary to be considered “well capitalized” under the FDIC’s regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. Rockland Trust has a CRA rating of at least “Satisfactory.” Rockland Trust has been duly chartered, is validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and holds the requisite authority to do business as a state-chartered trust company with banking powers under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Rockland Trust is a member in good standing of the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The activities of Rockland Trust are permitted under the laws and regulations of Massachusetts. Since December 31, 2022, the Company, Rockland Trust and each of its Subsidiaries have filed all material reports, registrations and statements, together with any required amendments thereto, that it was required to file with the Federal Reserve and the FDIC. All such reports and statements are collectively referred to herein as the “Company Reports.” As of their respective dates, the Company Reports complied as to form in all material respects with all the rules and regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve or the FDIC, as the case may be.
(xxi) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.
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(xxii) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental agency or body is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement prior to the Closing Date, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the rules of Nasdaq, the securities laws of any state or non-U.S. jurisdiction or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).
(xxiii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, registrations, memberships, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure to possess any such Governmental Licenses would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to be so would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses, which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has failed to file with applicable regulatory authorities any statement, report, information or form required by any applicable law, regulation or order, all such filings were in compliance with applicable laws when filed and no deficiencies have been asserted by any regulatory commission, agency or authority with respect to any such filings or submissions, except where the failure to so file or comply, or any such asserted deficiencies, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxiv) Title to Property. The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries and good title to all other properties owned by them, in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (A) are described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (B) would not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any Subsidiary. Except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, all of the leases and subleases under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are in full force and effect and are held under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or such Subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.
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(xxv) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures and excluding generally commercially available “off the shelf” software programs licensed pursuant to shrink wrap or “click and accept” licenses), systems, technology, trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement or misappropriation of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which could render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxvi) Environmental Laws. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, hazardous wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or toxic mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company and its Subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (D) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in forming the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws, and (E) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries anticipate material capital expenditures relating to Environmental Laws.
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(xxvii) ERISA. Except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect: (A) each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any Subsidiary or any member of the Company’s “control group” (within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) (each such member, an “ERISA Affiliate”), for employees or former employees of the Company and its affiliates (“Plan”) has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (B) no “prohibited transaction,” within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code has occurred with respect to any such Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (C) no “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates; (D) no “employee benefit plan” (as defined under ERISA) established or maintained by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such employee benefit plan were terminated, could have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA); and (E) neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan,” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each employee benefit plan established or maintained by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which could cause the loss of such qualification. With respect to each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, the minimum funding standard of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, as applicable, has been satisfied (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period) and is reasonably expected to be satisfied in the future (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period) and the fair market value of the assets under each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan). There is no pending audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other governmental agency or any foreign agency with respect to any employee benefit plan established or maintained by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates.
(xxviii) Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act Regulations) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations and is sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (E) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement is accurate and fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
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The systems of internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its Subsidiaries are overseen by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with Nasdaq rules and regulations. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, (i) there has been no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated), (ii) there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and (iii) the Company has not been advised of any (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the ability of the Company or any Subsidiary to record, process, summarize and report financial data, or any material weakness in internal controls, or (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries.
(xxix) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company and its Subsidiaries employ disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act Regulations), which (A) are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that material information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within the Company and its Subsidiaries to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure, (B) have been evaluated by management of the Company for effectiveness as of December 31, 2024, and (C) were then effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. Based on the evaluation of the Company’s and each Subsidiary’s disclosure controls and procedures described above, the Company is not aware of (1) any significant deficiency in the design or operation of internal controls which could materially adversely affect the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weakness in internal controls or (2) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ internal controls. Since the most recent evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures described above, there have been no changes in significant internal controls or in other factors that could significantly and materially affect internal controls.
(xxx) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no material failure on the part of the Company to comply in all material respects with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
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(xxxi) Pending Procedures and Examinations. The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.
(xxxii) Payment of Taxes. All United States federal income tax returns of the Company and the Subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been timely filed and all material taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which have been or will be promptly contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided in the Company’s financials in accordance with GAAP. The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law, except insofar as the failure to file such returns, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and have paid all material taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any Subsidiary except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and the Subsidiaries in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no material tax deficiency that has been or would reasonably be expected to be asserted against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets.
(xxxiii) Insurance. The Company and each Subsidiary is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and each Subsidiary against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes; neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and the Company has no reason to believe that it or any Subsidiary will not be able to renew their existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All such insurance is fully in force as of the date hereof.
(xxxiv) Investment Company Act. The Company is not, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
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(xxxv) Absence of Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries, nor any affiliates of the Company or its Subsidiaries, has taken, directly, or indirectly, and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries, nor any affiliates of the Company or its Subsidiaries, will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or which constitutes or would reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(xxxvi) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. For the past five years, none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any of the respective affiliates of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective affiliates (in each case, solely in their capacity as such) has (A) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (B) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any foreign or domestic government official (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for public office) from corporate funds; (C) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”) or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption statute or regulation; or (D) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment or benefit in violation of any applicable law, rule or regulation. The Company and its Subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the FCPA and applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
(xxxvii) Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the best knowledge of the Company, their respective affiliates (in their capacity as such), are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective affiliates conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency or body (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court, governmental agency or body involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(xxxviii) OFAC.
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Since April 24, 2019, none of the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or any officer or director of either the Company or any Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, any agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is or has been (in each case, solely in their capacity as such) (A) engaged in any services (including financial services), transfers of goods, software, or technology, or any other business activity in or with (i) Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic or any other Covered Region of Ukraine identified pursuant to Executive Order 14065 (collectively, “Sanctioned Countries” and each, a “Sanctioned Country”), (ii) the government of any Sanctioned Country, (iii) any person, entity or organization located in, resident in, formed under the laws of, or owned or controlled by the government of, any Sanctioned Country, or (iv) any person, entity or organization designated on applicable sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the list of Specially Designated Nationals of the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”), or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or His Majesty’s Treasury (collectively, “Sanctions”) and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of this offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, or any joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of or business with any person, or in any Sanctioned Country or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC; (B) engaged in any transfers of goods, technologies or services (including financial services) that assists the governments of Sanctioned Countries or facilitate money laundering or other illegal activities proscribed by United States laws, rules or regulations; (C) is a person, entity or organization currently the subject of applicable Sanctions; or (D) located, organized or resident in any Sanctioned Country.
(xxxix) Relationship. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, shareholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act or Securities Act Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus and that is not so described.
(xl) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. Except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company.
(xli) Statistical and Market-Related Data. The statistical and market-related data contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company believes are reliable and accurate, and the Company has obtained the consent to the use of such data from such sources to the extent required.
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(xlii) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Securities, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Representatives and included in Schedule B hereto or any electronic road show or other written communications reviewed and consented to by the Representatives and listed on Schedule B hereto (each a, “Company Additional Written Communication”). Each such Company Additional Written Communication, when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Company Additional Written Communication based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the Underwriter Information.
(xliii) Forward-Looking Statements. Each financial or operational projection or other “forward-looking statement” (as defined by Section 27A of the Securities Act or Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (A) was so included by the Company in good faith and with reasonable basis after due consideration by the Company of the underlying assumptions, estimates and other applicable facts and circumstances, and (B) is accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying those factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statement. No such statement was made with the knowledge of an executive officer or director of the Company that it was false or misleading.
(xliv) No Fees or Advisory Rights. Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company or any Subsidiary any brokerage or finder’s fee or any other fee, commission or payment as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No person has the right to act as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.
(xlv) Deposit Insurance. The deposit accounts of Rockland Trust are insured by the FDIC up to applicable legal limits, Rockland Trust has paid all premiums and assessments required by the FDIC and the regulations thereunder.
(xlvi) Off-Balance Sheet Transactions. There is no transaction, arrangement or other relationship between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and an unconsolidated or other off-balance sheet entity which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (other than as disclosed therein).
(xlvii) Margin Rules. The application of the proceeds received by the Company from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve or any other regulation of the Federal Reserve.
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(xlviii) Cybersecurity. (A) There has been no security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure, or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and databases (including the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained, processed or stored by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of the Company, any such data processed or stored by third parties on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”), that would, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (B) neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have been notified of, and each of them have no knowledge of any event or condition that could result in, any security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data that would, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) the Company and its Subsidiaries have implemented appropriate controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards. The Company and its Subsidiaries are presently in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws or statutes and all applicable judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
(xlix) Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. The statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Pending Merger with Enterprise” insofar as such statements constitute summaries of certain provisions of the Merger Agreement, fairly summarize such provisions in all material respects. To the knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof, the representations and warranties of the Company made in the Merger Agreement were true and correct in all material respects as of the date of the Merger Agreement and are true and correct in all material respects on the date hereof (except that representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of some other date were true and correct as of such date, and except that representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality or material adverse effect were and are true and correct in all respects).
(b) Officer’s Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
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SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) Sale of Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, at a purchase price equal to 99.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof.
(b) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of the Securities shall be made at the offices of Covington & Burling LLP, The New York Times Building, 620 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10018, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on March 25, 2025 (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11), or such other time not later than 10 business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Date”).
Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company against delivery of the Securities (in the form of one or more global notes), through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Securities which it has agreed to purchase. The Representatives, individually and not as representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Date, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Commission Requests. Prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement, the Company, subject to Section 3(b) hereof will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B of the Securities Act Regulations, and will notify the Representatives immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement relating to the Securities shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus shall have been used or filed, as the case may be, including any document incorporated by reference therein, in each case only as permitted by Section 3 hereof, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or any notice of objection to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or of the issuance of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.
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The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. Until the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop, prevention or suspension order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment. If, before all the Securities have been sold by the Underwriters, the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company will (A) promptly notify the Underwriters, (B) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Securities in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, (C) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable, and (D) promptly notify the Underwriters of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.
(b) Payment of Filing Fees. The Company shall pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Securities Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act Regulations (including, if applicable, by updating the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)).
(c) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations, would be) required by the Securities Act (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act Regulations) to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities ending no later than nine months from the date hereof (the “Delivery Period”) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act Regulations) is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, including, without limitation, any document incorporated therein by reference, in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representatives written notice of such event or condition, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement and use its reasonable best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission as soon as possible if the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.
(d) Filing or Use of Amendments or Supplements. During the Delivery Period, the Company (A) will furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable period of time prior to the proposed time of filing of any proposed amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, a copy of each such amendment or supplement, and (B) will not amend or supplement the Registration Statement without the Representatives’ prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld. Prior to amending or supplementing any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the time of filing or use of the proposed amendment or supplement, a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement. The Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement without the Representatives’ prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld.
(e) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The signed copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(f) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the Delivery Period, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
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(g) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will take such actions as the Representatives reasonably request to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and non-U.S. jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect during the Delivery Period; provided, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
(h) Earnings Statements. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 16 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) of the Securities Act), an earnings statement (satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations (including Rule 158)).
(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”
(j) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the Delivery Period, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by, and each such document will meet the requirements of, the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations.
(k) Pricing Term Sheet. The Company will prepare the Term Sheet, containing solely a description of the final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, and after affording the Representatives the opportunity to comment thereon, file the Term Sheet with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) within the time required by such Rule.
(l) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided, that the Representatives will be deemed to have consented to any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule B hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representatives. The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representatives as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus during the Delivery Period there occurred or occurs an event or condition as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives in writing and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to correct such untrue statement or omission.
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(m) Renewal Deadline. If, immediately prior to the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement (the “Renewal Deadline”), any Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, (i) promptly notify the Representatives in writing and (ii) promptly file, if it is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Securities, in a form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters. If, at the Renewal Deadline, the Company is not eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, (i) promptly notify the Representatives in writing, (ii) promptly file a new shelf registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to such Securities, in a form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective within 60 days after the Renewal Deadline and (iv) promptly notify the Representatives in writing of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired Registration Statement. References herein to the “Registration Statement” shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.
(n) DTC. The Company will cooperate with the Underwriters and use its reasonable best efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance, settlement and trading through the facilities of DTC.
(o) Investment Company Act. The Company shall not invest or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Securities in such a manner as could require the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
(p) Regulation M. The Company will not take, and will ensure that no affiliate of the Company will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in or which constitutes or would reasonably be expected to constitute unlawful stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities or any reference security with respect to the Securities, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or otherwise.
(q) Trustee, Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a trustee, registrar and paying agent for the Securities.
(r) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company and its Subsidiaries will comply with all effective applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
(s) Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 30 days from the date of this Agreement, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of the Guarantors and having a tenor of more than one year. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to the Notes to be sold pursuant to this Agreement or borrowings under the FHLB.
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(t) Taxes. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters against any documentary, stamp, issue or similar tax, including any interest and penalties, on the creation, issue and sale of the Securities and on the execution and delivery of this Agreement. All payments to be made by the Company hereunder shall be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties or governmental charges whatsoever unless the Company is compelled by law to deduct or withhold such taxes, duties or charges. In that event, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts received after such withholding or deduction shall equal the amounts that would have been received if no withholding or deduction had been made.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, and the fees and expenses of making the Securities eligible for clearance, settlement and trading through the facilities of DTC, (vi) the fees and expenses of any trustee, registrar or paying agent, including the fees and expenses of the Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities, (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA, if required, of the terms of the sale of the Securities, provided, that such fees shall not exceed $10,000 without the prior written consent of the Company, (ix) expenses associated with the ratings of the Securities, (x) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement, (xi) the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Securities made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation contained in the second sentence of Section 1(a)(ii) and Section 1(a)(xi) of this Agreement, (xii) the legal fees and expenses (including fees and disbursements of one outside counsel for the Underwriters), and marketing, syndication and travel expenses and any expenses related to an investor presentation and/or roadshow that are incurred by the Underwriters, provided, that such expenses shall not exceed $200,000 without the prior written consent of the Company, and (xiii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section 4(a).
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Notwithstanding anything in the Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that this Agreement is terminated due to the breach of the Underwriters, the Company shall not be required to reimburse the Underwriters’ fees and expenses.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 6, Section 10(a) or Section 11 hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable, documented out-of-pocket fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, subject to the limitations in Section 4(a) and in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200,000. Except as provided in this Section 4 and Sections 7 and 8 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses.
SECTION 5. Use of Free Writing Prospectuses by Underwriters. Each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission.
SECTION 6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement, etc. The Registration Statement was filed by the Company with the Commission and became effective upon filing in accordance with Rule 462(e) not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof. Each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus shall have been filed as required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) and Rule 433, as applicable, within the time period prescribed by, and in compliance with, the Securities Act Regulations. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have been issued under the Securities Act or proceedings therefor initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission, no notice of objection to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) has been received by the Company, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. The Company shall have paid the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Securities Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act Regulations and, if applicable, shall have updated the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).
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(b) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. At the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
(c) Opinion of the General Counsel. At the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Patricia M. Natale, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary to the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Covington & Burling LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they may request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters. In giving such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the State of New York and the federal securities laws of the United States, upon the opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representatives. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers and other representatives of the Company and its Subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.
(e) Officers’ Certificate. At the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated as of Closing Date, to the effect that (i) there has been no Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Date, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date, and (iv) the conditions specified in Section 6(a) hereof have been satisfied.
(f) Comfort Letters. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter with respect to the Company, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, confirming that they are a registered public accounting firm and independent registered public accountants as required by the Securities Act and containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter with respect to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to Section 6(e) hereof, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.
(h) Certificates of Chief Financial Officers. At the time of execution of this Agreement and at the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received (a) a certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of Enterprise, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives; and (b) a certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.
(i) Other Documents. The Underwriters shall have received such other documents as they may reasonably request with respect to other matters related to the sale of the Securities.
(j) Absence of Rating Downgrade. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of (i) any downgrading, (ii) any intended or potential downgrading, or (iii) any review or possible change that does not indicate an improvement, in the rating accorded to the Securities by Fitch, Inc.
(k) No Objection. If applicable, FINRA shall have not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements relating to the offering of the Securities.
(l) No Important Changes. Since the execution of this Agreement, (i) in the good faith judgment of the Representatives, since the respective date hereof or the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) there shall not have been any decrease in or withdrawal of the rating of any debt securities or preferred securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in or withdrawal of any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.
(m) Delivery of Prospectus. The Company shall have complied with the provisions hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses, in electronic or printed format, on the second New York business day succeeding the date of this Agreement.
(n) No Termination Event. On or after the date hereof, there shall not have occurred any of the events, circumstances or occurrences set forth in Section 10(a).
(o) No Legal Impediment to Issuance and/or Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities by the Company.
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(p) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and Rockland Trust in their respective jurisdictions of organization, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.
(q) Indenture. At the Closing Date, the Indenture shall have been executed and delivered by each party thereto and an executed copy thereof shall have been provided to the Representatives.
(r) Additional Documents. At the Closing Date, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties of the Company, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION 7. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company and Rockland Trust, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of the Securities Act Regulations (each, an “Affiliate”)), selling agents, officers and directors and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “road show”, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; (iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
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provided, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.
(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 7(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.
(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a) hereof, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representatives, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b) hereof, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the prior written consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 or Section 8 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
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SECTION 8. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and Rockland Trust, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and Rockland Trust, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company and Rockland Trust, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and Rockland Trust, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.
The relative fault of the Company and Rockland Trust, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and Rockland Trust or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, Rockland Trust and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discount received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates, officers, directors and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
SECTION 9. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive. The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in Section 7 and Section 8, and all representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates, officers, directors and or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter or the Company’s officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.
SECTION 10. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination. The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Date, (i) if there has been, in the good faith judgment of the Representatives, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Effect, (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, including without limitation as a result of terrorist activities, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission, or Nasdaq, (iv) if trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental agency or body, (v) if a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems in Europe, (vi) if a general moratorium on commercial banking activities has been declared by either federal, New York or Commonwealth of Massachusetts authorities or if there is a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or (vii) if any condition specified in Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled.
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(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Section 1, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9, Section 14, Section 15, Section 16, Section 17 and Section 22 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 11. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Date to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 36 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters that are reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 36-hour period, then:
(i) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased at the Closing Date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or
(ii) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased at the Closing Date, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 11.
SECTION 12. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the care of KBW at 787 Seventh Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10019, attention of Michael C. Garea, Director, Capital Markets, e-mail: *** and Piper Sandler at 1251 Avenue of Americas, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10020, Attn: General Counsel, with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to Covington & Burling LLP, The New York Times Building, 620 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10018, Attn: Michael P. Reed; and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at 288 Union Street, Rockland, MA 02370, attention of Mark Ruggiero, e-mail: ***.
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SECTION 13. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the initial public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering of the Securities and the process leading thereto, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its shareholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company in connection with the offering of the Securities or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company in connection with the offering of the Securities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, financial, regulatory or tax advice in connection with the offering of the Securities and the Company has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Company waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law any claims that it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Securities.
SECTION 14. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company, Rockland Trust and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors and the indemnified parties referred to in Section 7 and Section 8 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons, Affiliates, selling agents, officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 15. Trial by Jury. Each of the Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its shareholders and affiliates), Rockland Trust and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 16. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT, ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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SECTION 17. Consent to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be instituted in (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan or (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any Specified Court, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of the Specified Courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or proceeding brought in any Specified Court. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
SECTION 18. TIME. TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
SECTION 19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile or other electronic means shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original signature pages to this Agreement for all purposes.
SECTION 20. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 21. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party that the condition is meant to benefit.
SECTION 22. Confidential Supervisory Information. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no disclosure, representation, or warranty shall be made (or other action taken) pursuant to this Agreement that would involve the disclosure of confidential supervisory information (including “confidential supervisory information” as defined in any regulation or rule adopted or promulgated by a governmental or regulatory authority) by any party to this Agreement to the extent prohibited by applicable law. To the extent legally permissible, appropriate substitute disclosures or actions shall be made or taken under circumstances in which the limitations of the preceding sentence apply.
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SECTION 23. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(c) As used in this Section 23:
(i) “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
(ii) “Covered Entity” means any of the following:
a) | a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); |
b) | a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or |
c) | c) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). |
(iii) “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
(iv) “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (A) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (B) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
[Signature pages follow]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company and Rockland Trust a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters, the Company and Rockland Trust in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, | ||
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP. | ||
/s/ Mark Ruggiero |
||
Name: | Mark Ruggiero | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY | ||
/s/ Mark Ruggiero |
||
Name: | Mark Ruggiero | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, | ||||
as of the date first above written: | ||||
KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Frank Cicero |
|||
Name: | Frank Cicero | |||
Title: | Managing Director | |||
PIPER SANDLER & CO. | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Bondroff |
|||
Name: | Alex Bondroff | |||
Title: | Managing Director |
For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
Name of Underwriter |
Aggregate Principal Amount of Securities to be Purchased |
|||
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. |
$ | 180,000,000 | ||
Piper Sandler & Co. |
$ | 120,000,000 | ||
|
|
|||
Total |
$ | 300,000,000 | ||
|
|
SCHEDULE B
Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses
1. | Investor Presentation, filed as a Free Writing Prospectus on March 20, 2025. |
2. | The Term Sheet set forth in Schedule C, filed as a Free Writing Prospectus on March 20, 2025. |
SCHEDULE C
Term Sheet
Independent Bank Corp.
$300,000,000
7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2035
Term Sheet
Issuer: | Independent Bank Corp. (NASDAQ: INDB) (the “Company” or “Issuer”) | |
Securities: | 7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”) | |
Aggregate Principal Amount: | $300,000,000 | |
Ratings*: | [redacted] | |
Trade Date: | March 20, 2025 | |
Settlement Date: | March 25, 2025 (T+3) ** | |
Maturity Date (if not previously redeemed): | April 1, 2035 | |
Coupon: | From and including the Settlement Date to, but excluding, April 1, 2030 or the date of earlier redemption (the “fixed rate period”), a fixed rate of 7.25% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears.
From and including April 1, 2030 to, but excluding, the Maturity Date or the date of earlier redemption (the “floating rate period”), a floating rate per annum equal to the Benchmark (which is expected to be Three-Month Term SOFR) (each as defined under “Description of the Notes—Payment of Principal and Interest—Floating Rate Period” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), plus a spread of 353 basis points, payable quarterly in arrears; provided, that if the Benchmark is less than zero, the Benchmark shall be deemed to be zero. |
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Interest Payment Dates: | Fixed rate period: April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing on October 1, 2025. The last interest payment date for the fixed rate period will be April 1, 2030.
Floating rate period: January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing on July 1, 2030. |
Record Dates: | The 15th calendar day of the month immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date. | |
Day Count Convention: | Fixed rate period: 30/360.
Floating rate period: 360-day year and the number of days actually elapsed. |
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Optional Redemption: | The Company may, at its option, beginning with the interest payment date of April 1, 2030, and on any interest payment date thereafter, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, subject to obtaining the prior approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) to the extent such approval is then required under the rules of the Federal Reserve Board, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption (as described in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption and Redemption Upon Special Events”). | |
Special Redemption: | The Company may redeem the Notes at any time prior to the Maturity Date, including prior to April 1, 2030, in whole, but not in part, subject to obtaining the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board to the extent such approval is then required under the rules of the Federal Reserve Board, upon or after the occurrence of (i) a “Tax Event”, (ii) a “Tier 2 Capital Event”, or (iii) the Company becoming required to register as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, in each case, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption (as described in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption and Redemption Upon Special Events”). | |
Denominations: | $1,000 minimum denominations and $1,000 integral multiples in excess thereof. | |
Use of Proceeds: | The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include redeeming Enterprise Bancorp, Inc.’s 5.25% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2030 following the consummation of the Merger (as described in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement under “Use of Proceeds”). | |
Price to Public: | 100% of aggregate principal amount of the Notes. |
Ranking: | The Notes will be general unsecured, subordinated obligations of the Company and will:
• rank junior in right of payment and upon the Company’s liquidation to any of the Company’s existing and future senior indebtedness (as defined under “Description of the Notes—Subordination of the Notes” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), whether secured or unsecured;
• rank equal in right of payment and upon the Company’s liquidation with any of the Company’s future subordinated indebtedness the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks equally with promissory notes, bonds, debentures and other evidence of indebtedness of types that include the Notes;
• rank senior in right of payment and upon liquidation with (i) the Company’s existing junior subordinated debentures underlying outstanding trust preferred securities, and (ii) any indebtedness the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks junior to promissory notes, bonds, debentures and other types of indebtedness that include the Notes; and
• be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future indebtedness, deposits and other liabilities of the Company’s bank subsidiary, Rockland Trust Company (“Rockland Trust”) and the Company’s other current and future subsidiaries, including, without limitation, Rockland Trust’s liabilities to depositors in connection with the deposits in Rockland Trust, its liabilities to general creditors and its liabilities arising during the ordinary course or otherwise.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $639 million of borrowings outstanding with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, no subordinated indebtedness outstanding ranking equally with the Notes and $61 million of junior subordinated indebtedness on a gross basis (which was comprised of the Company’s existing junior subordinated debentures) outstanding ranking junior to the Notes.
Because the Company is a holding company, its cash flows and, consequently, its ability to pay and discharge its obligations, including the principal of, and interest on, its debt securities depend on the dividends paid, and the distributions and other payments made, to the Company by its subsidiaries, and funds it obtains from its corporate borrowings or by selling its securities. The Company’s right to receive any dividends or to receive any payments or distributions of cash or other assets from its subsidiaries upon their liquidation or reorganization, and the |
consequent right of the holders of the Notes to participate in the proceeds of those dividends, payments or distributions, are structurally subordinated to the claims of its subsidiaries’ respective creditors, including the depositors of Rockland Trust. As of December 31, 2024, Rockland Trust and the Company’s other subsidiaries had outstanding indebtedness, total deposits and other liabilities of approximately $16.4 billion, excluding intercompany liabilities. | ||
CUSIP/ISIN: | 453836AJ7/US453836AJ75 | |
Joint Book-Running Managers: | Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company Piper Sandler & Co. |
* | A rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. Ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. Any such designation is provided for informational purposes only and (a) does not constitute an endorsement of any securities, product or project; (b) does not constitute investment or financial advice; and (c) does not represent any type of credit or securities rating or an assessment of the issuer’s economic performance, financial obligations nor of its creditworthiness. |
** | The Issuer expects that delivery of the Notes will be made against payment therefor on or about the Settlement Date indicated above, which will be the third business day following the date of pricing of the Notes (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes prior to the delivery of the Notes will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Notes initially will settle in T+3, to specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the Notes who wish to trade the Notes prior to their date of delivery should consult their own advisor. |
Note: The Issuer has filed a registration statement (File No. 333-281375) (including a base prospectus) and a preliminary prospectus supplement, dated March 20, 2025 (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the base prospectus in that registration statement, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the final prospectus supplement (when available) and other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Issuer, the underwriters or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you copies of the base prospectus, the related Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or final prospectus supplement (when available) if you request it by calling Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company, by emailing USCapitalMarkets@kbw.com or Piper Sandler & Co. by emailing Fsg-dcm@psc.com.
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Term Sheet have the meanings given to them in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. This Term Sheet is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. The information in this Term Sheet supplements the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement to the extent it is inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. Other information (including other financial information) presented in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement is deemed to have changed to the extent affected by the information contained herein.
ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.
Exhibit 4.1
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
and
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of March 25, 2025
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I Definitions And Other Provisions Of General Application | 1 | |||||
Section 1.1 |
Rules of Construction | 1 | ||||
Section 1.2 |
Definitions | 2 | ||||
Section 1.3 |
Compliance Certificates and Opinions | 7 | ||||
Section 1.4 |
Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee | 8 | ||||
Section 1.5 |
Acts of Holders; Record Dates | 8 | ||||
Section 1.6 |
Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company | 10 | ||||
Section 1.7 |
Notice to Holders; Waiver | 10 | ||||
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 |
Separability Clause | 11 | ||||
Section 1.12 |
Benefits of Indenture | 11 | ||||
Section 1.13 |
Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction | 11 | ||||
Section 1.14 |
Legal Holidays | 12 | ||||
ARTICLE II Security Forms | 12 | |||||
Section 2.1 |
Forms Generally | 12 | ||||
Section 2.2 |
Form of Legend for Global Securities | 13 | ||||
Section 2.3 |
Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication | 13 | ||||
ARTICLE III The Securities | 13 | |||||
Section 3.1 |
Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series | 13 | ||||
Section 3.2 |
Denominations | 16 | ||||
Section 3.3 |
Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating | 16 | ||||
Section 3.4 |
Temporary Securities | 18 | ||||
Section 3.5 |
Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange | 19 | ||||
Section 3.6 |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost, and Stolen Securities | 20 | ||||
Section 3.7 |
Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved | 21 | ||||
Section 3.8 |
Persons Deemed Owners | 22 | ||||
Section 3.9 |
Cancellation | 23 | ||||
Section 3.10 |
Section III | 23 | ||||
Section 3.11 |
Section III | 23 | ||||
ARTICLE IV Satisfaction and Discharge | 23 | |||||
Section 4.1 |
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 23 | ||||
Section 4.2 |
Application of Trust Money | 25 | ||||
ARTICLE V Remedies | 25 | |||||
Section 5.1 |
Events of Default | 25 | ||||
Section 5.2 |
Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 25 | ||||
Section 5.3 |
Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 26 | ||||
Section 5.4 |
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 27 |
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Section 5.5 |
Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities |
28 | ||||
Section 5.6 |
Application of Money Collected |
28 | ||||
Section 5.7 |
Limitation on Suits |
28 | ||||
Section 5.8 |
Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium, and Interest |
29 | ||||
Section 5.9 |
Restoration of Rights and Remedies |
29 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
Rights and Remedies Cumulative |
29 | ||||
Section 5.11 |
Delay or Omission Not Waiver |
30 | ||||
Section 5.12 |
Control by Holders |
30 | ||||
Section 5.13 |
Waiver of Past Defaults |
30 | ||||
Section 5.14 |
Undertaking for Costs |
30 | ||||
ARTICLE VI The Trustee | 31 | |||||
Section 6.1 |
Certain Duties and Responsibilities |
31 | ||||
Section 6.2 |
Notice of Defaults |
32 | ||||
Section 6.3 |
Certain Rights of Trustee |
32 | ||||
Section 6.4 |
Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities |
34 | ||||
Section 6.5 |
May Hold Securities |
34 | ||||
Section 6.6 |
Money Held in Trust |
34 | ||||
Section 6.7 |
Compensation and Reimbursement |
35 | ||||
Section 6.8 |
Disqualification; Conflicting Interests |
36 | ||||
Section 6.9 |
Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility |
36 | ||||
Section 6.10 |
Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor |
36 | ||||
Section 6.11 |
Acceptance of Appointment by Successor |
38 | ||||
Section 6.12 |
Merger, Conversion, Consolidation, or Succession to Business |
39 | ||||
Section 6.13 |
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company |
39 | ||||
Section 6.14 |
Appointment of Authenticating Agent |
39 | ||||
ARTICLE VII Holder Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company | 41 | |||||
Section 7.1 |
Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders |
41 | ||||
Section 7.2 |
Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders |
41 | ||||
Section 7.3 |
Reports by Trustee |
42 | ||||
Section 7.4 |
Reports by Company |
42 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease | 42 | |||||
Section 8.1 |
Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms |
42 | ||||
Section 8.2 |
Successor Substituted |
43 | ||||
ARTICLE IX Supplemental Indentures | 43 | |||||
Section 9.1 |
Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders |
43 | ||||
Section 9.2 |
Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders |
45 | ||||
Section 9.3 |
Execution of Supplemental Indentures |
46 | ||||
Section 9.4 |
Effect of Supplemental Indentures |
46 | ||||
Section 9.5 |
Conformity With Trust Indenture Act |
46 | ||||
Section 9.6 |
Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures |
46 | ||||
Section 9.7 |
Section IX |
46 |
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ARTICLE X Covenants | 47 | |||||
Section 10.1 |
Payment of Principal, Premium, and Interest |
47 | ||||
Section 10.2 |
Maintenance of Office or Agency |
47 | ||||
Section 10.3 |
Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust |
47 | ||||
Section 10.4 |
Statement by Officers as to Default |
48 | ||||
Section 10.5 |
Existence |
48 | ||||
Section 10.6 |
Maintenance of Properties |
49 | ||||
Section 10.7 |
Payment of Taxes and Other Claims |
49 | ||||
Section 10.8 |
Waiver of Certain Covenants |
49 | ||||
Section 10.9 |
Calculation of Original Issue Discount |
49 | ||||
Section 10.10 |
Tax Payment and Tax Withholding Obligations |
50 | ||||
ARTICLE XI Redemption of Securities | 50 | |||||
Section 11.1 |
Applicability of Article |
50 | ||||
Section 11.2 |
Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee |
50 | ||||
Section 11.3 |
Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed |
50 | ||||
Section 11.4 |
Notice of Redemption |
51 | ||||
Section 11.5 |
Deposit of Redemption Price |
52 | ||||
Section 11.6 |
Securities Payable on Redemption Date |
52 | ||||
Section 11.7 |
Securities Redeemed in Part |
53 | ||||
ARTICLE XII | 53 | |||||
Section 12.1 |
Applicability of Article |
53 | ||||
Section 12.2 |
Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities |
53 | ||||
Section 12.3 |
Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund |
53 | ||||
ARTICLE XIII Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance | 54 | |||||
Section 13.1 |
Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance |
54 | ||||
Section 13.2 |
Defeasance and Discharge |
54 | ||||
Section 13.3 |
Covenant Defeasance |
55 | ||||
Section 13.4 |
Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance |
55 | ||||
Section 13.5 |
Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in |
|||||
Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions |
57 | |||||
Section 13.6 |
Reinstatement |
57 | ||||
ARTICLE XIV Subordination Of Securities | 58 | |||||
Section 14.1 |
Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt |
58 | ||||
Section 14.2 |
No Payment When Senior Debt in Default |
60 | ||||
Section 14.3 |
Trustee and Holders of Securities May Rely on Certificate of |
|||||
Liquidating Agent; Trustee May Require Further Evidence as to |
||||||
Ownership of Senior Debt; Trustee Not Fiduciary to Holders of |
||||||
Senior Debt |
61 | |||||
Section 14.4 |
Payment Permitted If No Default |
61 | ||||
Section 14.5 |
Trustee Not Charged with Knowledge of Prohibition |
62 |
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Section 14.6 | Trustee to Effectuate Subordination |
62 | ||||
Section 14.7 | Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt |
62 | ||||
Section 14.8 | Article Applicable to Paying Agents |
63 | ||||
Section 14.9 | Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt |
63 | ||||
Section 14.10 | Trustee’s Rights to Compensation, Reimbursement of Expenses and Indemnification |
63 |
-iv-
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to
Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
Trust Indenture Act Section |
Indenture Section |
|||
§310 | (a)(1) | 6.9 | ||
(a)(2) | 6.9 | |||
(a)(3) | Not Applicable | |||
(a)(4) | Not Applicable | |||
(b) | 6.8 6.10 |
|||
§311 | (a) | 6.13 | ||
(b) | 6.13 | |||
§312 | (a) | 7.1 | ||
(b) | 7.2(1) | |||
(c) | 7.2(2) | |||
§313 | (a) | 7.3(1) | ||
(b) | 7.3(1) | |||
(c) | 7.3(1) | |||
(d) | 7.3(2) | |||
§314 | (a) | 7.4 | ||
(a) (4) | 1.2 | |||
10.4 | ||||
(b) | Not Applicable | |||
(c)(1) | 1.2 | |||
(c)(2) | 1.2 | |||
(c)(3) | Not Applicable | |||
(d) | Not Applicable | |||
(e) | 1.2 | |||
§315 | (a) | 6.1 | ||
(b) | 6.2 | |||
(c) | 6.1 | |||
(d) | 6.1 | |||
(d)(1) | 6.1 | |||
(d)(2) | 6.1 | |||
(d)(3) | 6.1 | |||
(e) | 5.14 |
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§316 |
(a)(1)(A) |
5.12 | ||
(a)(1)(B) |
5.2 5.13 |
|||
(a)(2) |
Not Applicable | |||
(b) |
5.8 | |||
(c) |
1.4(c) | |||
§317 |
(a)(1) |
5.3 | ||
(a)(2) |
5.4 | |||
(b) |
10.3 | |||
§318 |
(a) |
1.7 |
NOTE: This cross-reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.
-vi-
INDENTURE, dated as of March 25, 2025, between INDEPENDENT BANK CORP., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “Company”), having its principal office address at 2036 Washington Street, Hanover, Massachusetts 02339, and U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, 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 subordinated, unsecured debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities” and each, a “Security”), 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series of the Securities, as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions And Other Provisions
Of General Application
Section 1.1 Rules of Construction.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) | the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular; |
(2) | all other terms used in this Indenture which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference to the Trust Indenture Act, have the meanings assigned to them in the Trust Indenture Act; |
(3) | all accounting terms not otherwise defined in this Indenture have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, the term “accounting principles generally accepted in the United States” with respect to any computation required or permitted under this Indenture shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the date of such computation; |
(4) | 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; and |
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(5) | unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture. |
Section 1.2 Definitions.
“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.5(1).
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have the meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.
“Authorized Officer” means any officer of the Company designated by or pursuant to a Board Resolution to take certain actions as specified in this Indenture.
“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any other duly authorized committee of that board.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors, or by action of an Authorized Officer designated as such pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means, unless otherwise specified, any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that is not a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to be closed in The City of New York, New York.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture 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.
“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.
“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer, or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Controller, an Assistant Controller, its Corporate Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
-2-
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee located at One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company.
“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.3.
“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.
“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.
“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, the Person designated as Depositary for such series by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1, which Person shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended now or in the future, and any successor statute.
“Global Security” means a Security bearing the legend prescribed in Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a series of Securities, authenticated and delivered to the Depositary for such series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
“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 supplemental indentures entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including, for all purposes of this Indenture and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Indenture and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1.
“Interest Payment Date,” with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
“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 in accordance with its terms or the terms of this Indenture, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, or otherwise.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Corporate Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 10.4 shall be the principal executive, financial, or accounting officer of the Company.
-3-
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, and who, in all cases, shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount of such Security to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity of such Security pursuant to Section 5.2.
“Outstanding,” when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities previously authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) | Securities previously cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; |
(ii) | Securities for the payment or redemption of which money in the necessary amount has been previously 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 that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision for such redemption satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; |
(iii) | Securities which 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; |
(iv) | Securities which have been defeased pursuant to Section 13.2; and |
(v) | Securities not deemed outstanding pursuant to Section 11.3; |
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 under this Indenture, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of its maturity pursuant to Section 5.2, (ii) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 3.1, and (iii) Securities owned by the Company 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 actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.
-4-
“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.
“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of any series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, its rate or rates of interest, if any, its Stated Maturity, and redemption provisions, if any, with respect to such Securities are to be determined by the Company or its agents upon the issuance of such Securities.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, association, unincorporated organization, or government or any agency or political subdivision of any government.
“Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified 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.
“ranking junior to the Securities,” when used with respect to any obligation of the Company, shall mean any obligation of the Company which (a) ranks junior to and not equally with or prior to the Securities (or any other obligations of the Company ranking on a parity with the Securities) in right of payment upon the happening of any event of the kind specified in the first sentence of the second paragraph in Section 14.1 or (b) is specifically designated as ranking junior to the Securities by express provision in the instrument creating or evidencing such obligation. The securing of any obligations of the Company, otherwise ranking junior to the Securities, shall be deemed to prevent such obligations from constituting obligations ranking junior to the Securities. For the avoidance of doubt, any junior subordinated debt securities issued or assumed by the Company shall be deemed securities ranking junior to the Securities other than any such securities issued after the date hereof that by their terms expressly rank on a parity with the Securities.
“ranking on a parity with the Securities,” when used with respect to any obligation of the Company, shall mean any obligation of the Company which (a) ranks equally with and not prior to the Securities in right of payment upon the happening of any event of the kind specified in the first sentence of the second paragraph of Section 14.1 or (b) is specifically designated as ranking on a parity with the Securities by express provision in the instrument creating or evidencing such obligation. The securing of any obligations of the Company, otherwise ranking on a parity with the Securities, shall not be deemed to prevent such obligations from constituting obligations ranking on a parity with the Securities.
“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.
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“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.
“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any director, vice president, assistant vice president, any trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, or to whom any corporate trust matter relating to this Indenture is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.
“Senior Indebtedness” means
(i) | any of the Company’s indebtedness for borrowed or purchased money, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other written instruments, including any obligations of the Company to general creditors or trade creditors, |
(ii) | the Company’s obligations under letters of credit, |
(iii) | any of the Company’s indebtedness or other obligations with respect to commodity contracts, interest rate and currency swap agreements, cap, floor, and collar agreements, currency spot and forward contracts, and other similar agreements or arrangements designed to protect against fluctuations in currency exchange or interest rates, and |
(iv) | any guarantees, endorsements (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), or other similar contingent obligations in respect of obligations of others of a type described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), whether or not such obligation is classified as a liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, |
in each case whether outstanding on the date of execution of this Indenture or incurred later, other than obligations ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve (or other competent regulatory agency or authority) promulgates any rule or issues any interpretation that defines general creditor(s), the main purpose of which is to establish a criteria for determining whether the subordinated debt of a bank holding company is to be included in its capital, then the term “general creditors” as used herein the definition of Senior Debt will have the meaning as described in that rule or interpretation.
“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Company pursuant to Section 3.7.
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“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal or interest on such Security, 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 corporation or other Person more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock or a majority of the controlling interest 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. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock which ordinarily has 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 in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided, however, that in the event 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 under this Indenture, 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 Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 13.4.
“Vice President,” when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president (other than any assistant vice president), whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president.”
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary all of whose outstanding voting stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by the Company or one or more of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.
Section 1.3 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
Upon any application to or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to the proposed action provided for in this Indenture, if any, 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 in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provisions of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
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Every certificate or opinion (other than the Officers’ Certificate delivered under Section 10.4 of this Indenture) with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(1) | a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the related definitions; |
(2) | a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; |
(3) | a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, such individual has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such individual to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and |
(4) | a statement as to whether, 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.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which this certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give, or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions, or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
Section 1.5 Acts of Holders; Record Dates.
(1) | Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is expressly required by this Indenture, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied in and evidenced by such instrument or instruments) are sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.1) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. |
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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that (or whose nominee) is a Holder of a Global Security, may make, give, or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided or permitted in this Indenture to be made, given, or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that (or whose nominee) is a Holder of a Global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security.
(2) | 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 such witness, notary public or other officer its execution. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than such signer’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such signer’s 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. |
(3) | The Company may fix any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action, or to vote on any action, authorized, or permitted to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series. If not set by the Company prior to the first solicitation of a Holder of Securities of such series made by any Person in respect of any such action, or, in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the record date for any such action or vote shall be the 30th day (or, if later, the date of the most recent list of Holders required to be provided pursuant to Section 7.1) prior to such first solicitation or vote, as the case may be. With regard to any record date for action to be taken by the Holders of one or more series of Securities, only the Holders of Securities of such series on such date (or their duly designated proxies) shall be entitled to give, take, or vote on the relevant action. |
(4) | The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register. |
(5) | 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 of, in exchange for, or in lieu of such Security in respect of anything done, omitted, or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance on such action, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security. |
(6) | Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to give or take any action under this Indenture 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. |
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Section 1.6 Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,
(1) | the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if mailed by regular mail, sent by overnight courier, delivered, e-mailed or faxed to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office specified in the definition of such term appearing in Section 1.1, or such other address, fax number or e-mail address as may be provided by the Trustee from time to time by notice to the Company and the Holders, or |
(2) | the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if mailed by regular mail, sent by overnight courier, delivered or e-mailed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, e-mail: Maureen.Gaffney@RocklandTrust.com; Patricia.Natale@RocklandTrust.com, or at any other address or e-mail address previously furnished by the Company by notice to the Trustee for itself and for the benefit of the Holders. |
The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon notices, instructions, directions or other communications pursuant to this Indenture sent by e-mail, pdf, facsimile transmission or other similar electronic methods. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee acts upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses of the Company arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such notices, instructions, directions or other communications that the Trustee believes, in the absence of negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, to be genuine notwithstanding that such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit notices, instructions, directions or other communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse of electronic communications by third parties.
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 expressly provided in this Indenture) if in writing and (i) mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Security Register, or (ii) in the event that a Depositary (or a nominee thereof) is a Holder of Securities issued in the form of Global Securities, then with respect to such Securities given by electronic, email or other means as such be acceptable to such Depositary, in all cases, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.
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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. 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 by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose under this Indenture.
Section 1.8 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.
Section 1.9 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings in this Indenture and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Indenture.
Section 1.10 Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 1.11 Separability Clause.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired by such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision.
Section 1.12 Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties to this Indenture and their successors under this Indenture, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
Section 1.13 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction.
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (including but not limited to N.Y. General Obligations Law Section 5-1401 and any successor statute thereto).
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Each of the Company and the Trustee, and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance thereof, hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right it may have to trial by jury in any legal proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
Each of the Company and the Trustee irrevocably consents and submits, for itself and in respect of any of its assets or property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York or any United States court sitting, in each case, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, United States of America, and of any appellate court in respect thereof in any suit, action or proceeding that may be brought in connection with this Indenture or the Securities, and waives any immunity from the jurisdiction of such courts. Each of the Company and the Trustee irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to any such suit, action or proceeding that may be brought in such courts whether on the grounds of venue, residence or domicile or on the ground that any such suit, action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the Company and the Trustee agrees, to the fullest extent that it lawfully may do so, that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and the Trustee, respectively, and the Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to the enforcement by any competent court in the Company’s jurisdiction of organization of judgments validly obtained in any such court in New York on the basis of such suit, action or proceeding.
Section 1.14 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, other than a provision of the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) 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; provided that no interest shall accrue with respect to the payment due on such date for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.
ARTICLE II
Security Forms
Section 2.1 Forms Generally.
The Securities of each series shall be in substantially such form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions or in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, or in an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to such Board Resolution or any such supplemental indenture, 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 on them as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently with this Indenture, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities.
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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 the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary 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 definitive Securities, if any, 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 of such Securities.
Section 2.2 Form of Legend for Global Securities.
Any Global Security authenticated and delivered under this Indenture shall bear a legend (in addition to any legend that may be required by the applicable requirements of the Depositary) in substantially the following form:
This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture referred to in this Security and is registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee. 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 its nominee or a successor of such Depositary or a nominee of such successor 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.”
Section 2.3 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: | [___________________] | |||||
as Trustee | ||||||
By: |
|
|||||
Authorized Signatory |
ARTICLE III
The Securities
Section 3.1 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which 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, subject to Section 3.3, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution or an indenture supplemental to this Indenture, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:
(1) | the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series); |
(2) | 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, 3.5, 3.6, 9.6, or 11.7 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered under this Indenture); |
(3) | 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; |
(4) | the date or dates on which the principal (and premium, if any) of the Securities of the series is payable; |
(5) | the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date; |
(6) | the place or places in addition to the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable; |
(7) | the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced; |
(8) | the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase, or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund, or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder of the Security, 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, purchased, or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
(9) | if other than minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of such denomination, the denomination or denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable; |
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(10) | if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined; |
(11) | if other than the principal amount of the Securities of the series, the portion of the principal amount of Securities which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of its Maturity pursuant to Section 5.2; |
(12) | if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose under the Securities or this Indenture, including the principal amount which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined); |
(13) | the application, if any, of either or both of Section 13.2 and Section 13.3 to the Securities of the series (including, in the case of Section 13.3, the covenants and any Events of Default not specified therein that are subject thereto) and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election pursuant to such Sections by the Company shall be evidenced; |
(14) | whether 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 (if other than The Depository Trust Company), 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 its nominee and in which any such transfer may be registered; |
(15) | any Authenticating Agents, Paying Agents, or any other agents with respect to the Securities of the series; |
(16) | any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of Securities of the series in addition to (and not inconsistent with) those included in this Indenture for the benefit of Securities of all series, or any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of Securities of the series in lieu of any covenant or warranty included in this Indenture for the benefit of Securities of all series (including any covenant contained in Article X), or any provision that any covenant or warranty included in this Indenture for the benefit of Securities of all series (including any covenant contained in Article X) shall not be for the benefit of Securities of such series, or any change to or combination of the provisions of any such covenant or warranty included in this Indenture for the benefit of Securities of all series (including any covenants contained in Article X) which applies to the Securities of such series; |
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(17) | any addition to, deletion from, or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount of such Securities due and payable pursuant to Section 5.2; and |
(18) | any other terms of the Securities of such series, or of any specified tenor thereof. |
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 3.3) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any indenture supplemental to the Indenture.
Unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of any series, at the option of the Company, interest on the Securities of any series that bears interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled to such interest as such address shall appear in the Security Register.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.
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 minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples of such denominations.
Section 3.3 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, or one of its Vice Presidents, and may (but need not) have the corporate seal of the Company affixed or reproduced thereon and, if so affixed or reproduced, attested by its Corporate Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual, electronic or facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual, electronic or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such 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 the documents referred to below in this Section 3.3, for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities to or upon a Company Order or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee and to such recipients as may be specified from time to time by a Company Order.
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If so provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing the Securities of any series, the maturity date, original issue date, interest rate, and any other terms of any or all of the Securities of such series may be determined by or pursuant to such Company Order and procedures. If provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, unless and until such documents have been superseded or revoked:
(1) | a Company Order requesting such authentication and setting forth delivery instructions if the Securities are not to be delivered to the Company; provided that, with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (i) such Company Order may be delivered by the Company to the Trustee at any time prior to the delivery to the Trustee of the Securities of such series for authentication and delivery, (ii) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount established for such series, pursuant to a Company Order or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by a Company Order, and (iii) if so provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing the Securities of such series, the maturity date, original issue date, interest rate, and any other terms of any or all of the Securities of such series may be determined by a Company Order or pursuant to such procedures; |
(2) | any Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate and/or executed supplemental indenture referred to in Sections 2.1 and 3.1 by or pursuant to which the form or forms and terms of the Securities of such series were established; |
(3) | an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the form or forms and the terms of the Securities of such series, stating that such form or forms and terms have been established pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 3.1 and comply with this Indenture, and covering such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request; and |
(4) | an Opinion of Counsel, substantially to the effect that: |
(a) | the form or forms of the Securities of such series have been duly authorized and established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; |
(b) | the terms of the Securities of such series (or the manner of determining such terms) have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; 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 specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors rights and to general equity principles and other customary qualifications and assumptions. |
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The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under the Securities or this Indenture or otherwise.
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 above specified documents 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.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security 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 in this Indenture executed by the Trustee by manual or facsimile signature of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered 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 under this Indenture 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 which 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 one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. 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 and tenor.
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Section 3.5 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment may sometimes be collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as provided in this Indenture.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor.
At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities 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, 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 or the 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 or the Trustee 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, 9.6, or 11.7 not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required (i) 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 day of the transmittal of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 11.3 and ending at the close of business on the day of such transmittal, or (ii) 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.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series represented by a Global Security or Global Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for Securities of a series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company or, if appointed, has not accepted such appointment, within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon Company Request, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Global Securities representing Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security or Global Securities.
In the event that (i) the Company at any time and in its sole discretion determines that the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Global Securities or (ii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon Company Request or instructions from the Depositary, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive form and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Global Securities representing such series in exchange for such Global Security or Global Securities.
Upon the occurrence in respect of any Global Security of any series of any one or more of the conditions specified in the preceding two paragraphs or such other conditions as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such series, such Global Security may be exchanged for Securities registered in the names of, and the transfer of such Global Security may be registered to, such Persons (including Persons other than the Depositary with respect to such series and its nominees) as such Depositary shall direct. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, any Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, any Global Security shall also be a Global Security and shall bear the legend or legends specified in Section 2.2 except for any Security authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or upon registration of transfer of, a Global Security pursuant to the preceding sentence.
Section 3.6 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost, and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange a new Security 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 and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss, or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost, or stolen Security, a new Security 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 to such issuance and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected with such issuance.
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, whether or not 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 under this Indenture.
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 which 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 which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (“Defaulted Interest”) shall 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 (1) or (2) below:
(1) | 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 provided in this Clause. At such time the Company shall fix or cause to be fixed a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of such Special Record Date and the Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the related Special Record Date to be transmitted to each Holder of Securities of such series, not less than 10 days prior to such |
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Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the related Special Record Date having been so transmitted, 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 (2). |
(2) | 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.
Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee 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 3.7) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor an agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary or nominee, as the case may be, may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Indenture shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy, or other authorization furnished by a Depositary or its nominee pursuant to this Indenture. Furthermore, none of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Security Registrar, or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in any such Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. The Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Security Registrar, or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary, and any nominee thereof, that is the registered holder of any Global Security for all purposes of this Indenture relating to such Global Security (including the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest and additional amounts, if any, and the giving of instructions or directions by or to the owner or holder of a beneficial ownership interest in such Global Security) as the sole holder of such Global Security and shall have no obligations to the beneficial owners thereof.
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None of the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any acts or omissions of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for the records of any such depositary, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of any such Global Security, for any transactions between the Depositary and any Depositary participant or between or among the Depositary, any such Depositary participant and/or any holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such Global Security.
Section 3.9 Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for payment, conversion, 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 cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered which 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 which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its then customary procedures, and upon written request of the Company, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a certificate of such disposition.
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 of twelve 30-day months.
Section 3.11 CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the 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 numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar numbers.
ARTICLE IV
Satisfaction and Discharge
Section 4.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect, including the provisions of Article XIV (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities expressly provided for in this Indenture), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when:
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(1) | either: |
(a) | all Securities previously authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost, or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has previously 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 |
(b) | all such Securities not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation |
(i) | have become due and payable, or |
(ii) | will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or |
(iii) | 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 (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (other than Securities which have been destroyed, lost, or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6), for principal and any premium 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;
(2) | the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by the Company under this Indenture; and |
(3) | the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture provided for in this Indenture have been complied with. |
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the obligations (if any) of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2 and the last paragraph of Section 10.3 shall survive.
In the event Securities of two or more series were at any time issued under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to the Securities of all series as to which it is Trustee and if the conditions to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture contained in this Section 4.1 in respect of such Securities have been satisfied. In the event there are two or more Trustees under this Indenture, the effectiveness of any such instrument shall be conditioned upon receipt of such instruments from all such Trustees.
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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 to such money, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.
ARTICLE V
Remedies
Section 5.1 Events of Default.
“Events of Default,” wherever used in this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default, 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):
(1) | the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization law, now or hereafter in effect of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof, and such decree or order shall have continued unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or |
(2) | the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization law, now or hereafter in effect of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof, or the consent by the Company to the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law; or |
(3) | any other Event of Default with respect to Securities of that series. |
Section 5.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default specified in Sections 5.1(1) or 5.1(2) with respect to Securities of any series then Outstanding shall have occurred and be continuing, then, in each and every such case, the principal amount and interest, if any, on all of the Securities of all series then Outstanding shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.
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At any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Securities of one or more series and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as provided below in this Article, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected series (voting as one class), by written notice to the Company and the Trustee may waive all defaults with respect to all affected series, and may rescind and annul the consequences of the Event of Default if:
(1) | the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all overdue interest on all Securities of all affected series, (B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of all affected series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest on such Securities at the rate or rates prescribed in such Securities, (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed in such Securities, and (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under this Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents, and counsel; and |
(2) | all Events of Default with respect to Securities of all affected series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of the affected series which has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13. |
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any consequent right.
For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, then, from and after the date of such Event of Default, unless such Event of Default has been rescinded and annulled as provided above, the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed, for all purposes under this Indenture, to be such portion of the principal as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and the payment of such portion of the principal as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, on such portion and all other amounts owing under such Original Issue Discount Security, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.
Except for an Event of Default specified in Sections 5.1(1) or 5.1(2), no other Events of Default with respect to Securities of any series then Outstanding shall result in the acceleration of the principal or interest on Securities then Outstanding. For any Event of Default, other than those specified in Sections 5.1(1) or 5.1(2), and for any default, or failure to perform, or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company, there shall not be a right to accelerate the principal or interest due under the Securities then Outstanding.
Section 5.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if:
(1) | default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, |
(2) | default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at its Maturity, |
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(3) | default is made in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due pursuant to the terms of any Security, or |
(4) | default is made in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than such series), and such default or breach continues for a period of 30 days after there has been given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such 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” under this Indenture, |
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 premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed in such Securities, and, in addition, 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 immediately 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 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 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 in this Indenture, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 5.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property, or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator, or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that 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.
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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, arrangement, adjustment, or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may vote on behalf of the Holders for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and may 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 of such Securities in any related proceeding, 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 or, after an Event of Default, any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture 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 on such Securities of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender of such Securities if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee (including any predecessor trustee) under Section 6.7; and
SECOND: To the payment of amounts then due and unpaid to the holders of Senior Debt, to the extent required by Article XIV; and
THIRD: 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.
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, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under this Indenture, unless:
(1) | such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series; |
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(2) | the Holders of not less than 25% in 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 under the Indenture; |
(3) | such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses, and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; |
(4) | the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request, and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and |
(5) | 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 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 whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb, or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner provided in this Indenture and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.
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 (subject to Section 3.7) any 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, subject, however, to the provisions of Article XIV.
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 Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions under this Indenture 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 conferred in this Indenture 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 under this Indenture or now or in the future existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
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Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
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 or acquiescence in any such Event of Default. Every right and remedy given by this Article 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 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 that
(1) | such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, |
(2) | the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and |
(3) | the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. |
Section 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.
Subject to Section 5.2, the Holders of not less than a majority in 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 under this Indenture with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default (1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision of this Indenture which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such affected series.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising from such default 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 consequent right.
Section 5.14 Undertaking for Costs.
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All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Securities by such Holder’s acceptance of such Securities 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 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 attorney’s fees and expenses, 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 Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in 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 Securities on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Securities (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).
ARTICLE VI
The Trustee
Section 6.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(1) | Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, |
(a) | the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and |
(b) | 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 which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts, statements, opinions or conclusions stated therein). |
(2) | In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such individual’s own affairs. |
(3) | No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that |
(a) | this Subsection (3) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsections (1) or (4) of this Section; |
(b) | 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; and |
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(c) | 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 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined as provided herein, 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. |
(4) | 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. |
(5) | Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.1. |
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 to all Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee (as provided in Section 6.3(9)), unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of or the interest on any of the Securities of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment or analogous payment on such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors or trustees or a committee comprised of Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of such series. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.
Section 6.3 Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:
(1) | the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties; |
(2) | any request or direction of the Company mentioned in this Indenture 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; |
(3) | 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 under this Indenture, the Trustee (unless other evidence be specifically prescribed in this Indenture) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate; |
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(4) | the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered, or omitted by it under this Indenture in good faith and in reliance on such advice or Opinion of Counsel; |
(5) | 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 reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses, and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; |
(6) | 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 at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation; |
(7) | the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers or perform any duties under this Indenture 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; |
(8) | the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; |
(9) | the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities unless written notice of such default or Event of Default shall have been given to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee by the Company or by any Holder of the Securities, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture; |
(10) | the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties; |
(11) | the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder; |
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(12) | the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a 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 certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded; |
(13) | anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Trustee has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action; and |
(14) | the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including, without limitation, any provision of any law or regulation or any act of any governmental authority, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action. |
Section 6.4 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained in this Indenture and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no 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 from such Securities. The Trustee shall not be responsible to make any calculation with respect to any matter under this Indenture. The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor or investigate the Company’s compliance with or the breach of, or cause to be performed or observed, any representation, warranty, or covenant, or agreement of any Person, other than the Trustee, made in this Indenture.
Section 6.5 May Hold Securities.
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar, or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.8 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company 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 under this Indenture 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 under this Indenture except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.
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Section 6.7 Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Company agrees:
(1) | to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee for all services rendered by it under this Indenture (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); |
(2) | except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, 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 may be attributable to its gross negligence or willful misconduct; and |
(3) | to indemnify each of the Trustee and any successor Trustee and their officers, agents, directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability, or expense, including fees and expenses of counsel and taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee), incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under this Indenture, or in connection with enforcing the provisions of this Section. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. |
To secure the Company’s obligations under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all money or property held or collected by the Trustee in its capacity as Trustee, except for such money and property which is held in trust to pay principal (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities, and the claims of the Trustee under this Section shall not be subject to the provisions of Article XIV;
In addition to, and without prejudice to its other rights under this Indenture, when the Trustee incurs any expenses or renders any services after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(1) or (2), such expenses (including the fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the United States Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors; and
The provisions of this Section 6.7 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture, the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination for any reason of this Indenture.
“Trustee” for purposes of this Section shall include any predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.
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Section 6.8 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. For the purpose of the second paragraph of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the phrase “default (as such term is defined in such indenture, but exclusive of any period of grace or requirement of notice)” is hereby defined to mean any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.
Section 6.9 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee under this Indenture which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section (and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act), the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Article.
Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(1) | 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. |
(2) | The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company. |
(3) | 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 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by not less than 30 days written notice, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. |
(4) | If at any time: |
(a) | the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.8 after written request for such compliance by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or |
(b) | the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 and shall fail to resign after written request by the Company or by any such Holder, or |
(c) | the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver 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, |
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then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) 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 such Holder 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.
(5) | If the instrument of acceptance 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 or removal, the Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series. |
(6) | 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 shall comply with the applicable 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 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, immediately 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 such Holder 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. |
(7) | 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. |
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Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(1) | In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee under this Indenture with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge, and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment. Upon such delivery, 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 or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, 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 under this Indenture, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 6.7. |
(2) | In case of the appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee, and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver a supplemental indenture wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) 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, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to the Securities of all series, 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 (3) 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 under this Indenture by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing in this Indenture or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustee’s co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts under this Indenture separate and apart from any trust or trusts under this Indenture 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 in such supplemental indenture 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; and such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer, and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 6.7. |
(3) | Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company 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) and (b) of this Section, as the case may be. |
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(4) | 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. |
Section 6.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation, or Succession to Business.
Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion, or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee under this Indenture, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties to this Indenture. 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.
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities (other than by reason of a relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company or any such other obligor. For purposes of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act:
(1) | 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; and |
(2) | 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 such obligor 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 such obligor arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation. |
Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents (which may be an affiliate of the Company) 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 original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer, or partial redemption or conversion, 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.
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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 of its states, 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 the supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any Person into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion, or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such Person shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall transmit notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment under this Indenture shall become vested with all the rights, powers, and duties of its predecessor, 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.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed on it, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative 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.
[______________________] |
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as Trustee | ||
By: |
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As Authenticating Agent | ||
By: |
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Authorized Officer |
ARTICLE VII
Holder 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:
(1) | semi-annually, not later than June 30 and December 31 in each year, a list for each series, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of the preceding June 15 or December 15, as the case may be, and |
(2) | 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 that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar for such series, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.
Section 7.2 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
(1) | The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the 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 dispose of as it deems fit any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished. |
(2) | The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act. |
(3) | Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act. |
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Section 7.3 Reports by Trustee.
(1) | The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act. To the extent that any such report is required by the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any 12-month period, such report shall cover the 12-month period ending May 15 and shall be transmitted (in accordance with the Trust Indenture Act) by the next succeeding July 15. |
(2) | 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, with the Commission, and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange. |
Section 7.4 Reports by Company.
The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents, and other reports, and such summaries, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Trust Indenture Act; provided that with respect to any such information, documents, or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company intends to file such information, documents or reports with the Commission in electronic form in accordance with Regulation S-T of the Commission using the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR). Compliance with the foregoing, or any successor electronic system approved by the Commission, will constitute delivery by the Company of such reports to the Trustee and Holders in compliance with the Trust Indenture Act.
Delivery of such reports, information, and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee shall be entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
ARTICLE VIII
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease
Section 8.1 Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer, or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the Company shall not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer, or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless:
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(1) | in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer, or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any of its states or the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; |
(2) | immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and |
(3) | the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent to such transaction provided for in this Indenture have been complied with. |
Section 8.2 Successor Substituted.
Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer, or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer, or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company in this Indenture, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
ARTICLE IX
Supplemental Indentures
Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more supplemental indentures, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) | to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company in this Indenture and in the Securities; |
(2) | to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power conferred in this Indenture upon the Company; |
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(3) | to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); |
(4) | to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; |
(5) | to add to, change, or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided that any such addition, change, or elimination (i) shall neither (A) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (B) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (ii) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; |
(6) | provide for or confirm the issuance of additional Securities; |
(7) | conform this Indenture, as amended or supplemented, or the Securities, as amended or supplemented, to the description and terms of such Securities in the prospectus supplement, offering memorandum, offering circular or other offering document applicable to such Securities at the time of the initial sale thereof; |
(8) | to secure the Securities; |
(9) | to establish the form or forms or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1; |
(10) | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under this Indenture 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 under this Indenture by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11(2); |
(11) | to comply with any requirements of the Commission in connection with qualifying this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; |
(12) | to cure any ambiguity, mistake, defect or inconsistency; or |
(13) | to make any change; provided that such change shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect. |
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Section 9.2 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of such Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture or indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to this Section 9.2 shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected by such supplemental indenture,
(1) | change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce its principal amount or rate of interest or any premium payable upon its redemption, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of its Maturity pursuant to Section 5.2, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder of any Security, or change any Place of Payment where any Security or any premium or interest is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after its Stated Maturity (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders; |
(2) | reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with the provisions of or defaults under this Indenture and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; or |
(3) | modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13, or Section 10.8, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each affected Outstanding Security; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.11(2) and 9.1(10). |
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which 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.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance of such supplemental indenture.
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Section 9.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive in addition to the documents required by Section 1.3, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.4 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance with such supplemental indenture, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities previously or subsequently authenticated and delivered under this Indenture shall be bound by such supplemental indenture.
Section 9.5 Conformity With Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 9.6 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Company, bear a notation in form approved by the Company as to any matter provided for in such 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 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 Notice of Supplemental Indentures.
After any supplemental indenture under this Article becomes effective, the Company may give to the Holders of Securities, in the manner referred to in Section 1.7, a notice briefly describing such supplemental indenture; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice to all Holders of Securities, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of such supplemental indenture.
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ARTICLE X
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 each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be 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 its address, such presentations, surrenders, notices, and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices, and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies 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; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. 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.
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 to such principal, premium, or interest 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 provided in this Indenture and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure 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 such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to act.
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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 (i) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (ii) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, and upon the written request of the Trustee, immediately pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the 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 applicable 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 two years 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, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee, shall cease at such time.
Section 10.4 Statement by Officers as to Default.
The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date of this Indenture, an Officers’ Certificate (one of the signers of which shall be the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, or principal accounting officer of the Company), stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of the signers, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions, and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and their nature and status of which they may have knowledge. The Company will deliver to the Trustee written notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default or default (which word has the meaning of the word “default” as used in Section 6.2), within ten (10) Business Days of the Company becoming aware of any such Event of Default or default and setting forth the detail of such Event of Default or default and the action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 10.5 Existence.
Subject to Article VIII, the Company 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 shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that its preservation is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that its loss is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.
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Section 10.6 Maintenance of Properties.
The Company will cause all material properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair, and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments, and improvements, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on by it may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.
Section 10.7 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.
The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments, and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits, or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials, and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge, or claim whose amount, applicability, or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate provision is made.
Section 10.8 Waiver of Certain Covenants.
The Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision, or condition set forth in Sections 10.5 to 10.7 (excluding Section 10.7(1)), or in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 3.1(16) or 9.1(2) for the benefit of the Holders of such series, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision, or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision, or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision, or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 10.9 Calculation of Original Issue Discount.
If the Company has Outstanding any Original Issue Discount Securities, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may be required to be provided to the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the holders of the Notes pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations issued thereunder.
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Section 10.10 Tax Payment and Tax Withholding Obligations.
In order to enable the Trustee and any other Paying Agent to comply with any tax payment or tax withholding obligation or obligations imposed on it or them by virtue of applicable law in connection with any payment made by it or them to Holders pursuant to any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company hereby agrees that, upon receipt of a request from time to time from the Trustee or such Paying Agent, the Company will provide to the Trustee and such Paying Agent promptly a notice in writing as to whether and to what extent, together with any and all information necessary to enable the Trustee and such Paying Agent to determine whether and to what extent, any such tax payment or tax withholding obligation or obligations shall apply, and, if any do so apply, the amount and other relevant details of such tax payment and/or tax withholding obligation or obligations. In addition to and notwithstanding such agreement, the Trustee and any such Paying Agent shall have full right and warrant to withhold from any payment made by it or them pursuant to any of the provisions of this Indenture (if required to comply with such tax payment or tax withholding obligation or obligations) and shall not be liable to any Person for so doing.
ARTICLE XI
Redemption of Securities
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article.
Securities of any series which 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.
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 or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least three Business Days before transmitting a notice of such redemption (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.
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 or such series is comprised of a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption as follows: (a) if the Securities are in the form of Global Securities, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, (b) if the Securities are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities are listed or (c) if not otherwise provided for under clause (a) or (b) in the manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, including by lot or other method, unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements.
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If less than all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such series is comprised of a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.
Unless all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or such series is comprised of a single Security, the Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities (other than Securities comprised of a single Security) selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) of such Security.
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 transmitted not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.
All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and state:
(1) | the Redemption Date; |
(2) | the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any; |
(3) | if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed: |
(a) | the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed, and |
(b) | that on or after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in authorized denominations for an aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued; |
(4) | that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on such Security will cease to accrue on and after such date; |
(5) | the name and address of the Paying Agent; |
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(6) | that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price; |
(7) | that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; |
(8) | the paragraph of the Securities and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Securities called for redemption are being redeemed; and |
(9) | the “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar numbers, if any, of the Securities to be redeemed and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP, ISIN or other similar number that is listed in such notice or printed on the Securities. |
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 (delivered to the Trustee, together with a form of notice of redemption, at least one Business Day prior to the date of the giving of the notice of redemption (unless a shorter period shall be acceptable to the Trustee)), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable.
Section 11.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.
Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time on the 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.
Section 11.6 Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given in accordance with this Indenture, the Securities to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price specified in the notice, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with such 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 as contemplated by Section 3.1, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor 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 for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed in the Security.
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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 (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 or the 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 of like 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 XII
Sinking Funds
Section 12.1 Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article 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 referred to in this Indenture 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 referred to in this Indenture 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.
Section 12.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (1) may deliver Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which previously have been redeemed by the Company 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, or have been otherwise acquired by the Company as permitted by 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 90 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.2 and the basis for such credit and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered.
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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 redemption 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 Sections 11.6 and 11.7.
ARTICLE XIII
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Section 13.1 Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
If, pursuant to Section 3.1, provision is made for either or both of (a) Defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 13.2 or (b) Covenant Defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 13.3, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article XIII, shall be applicable to the Securities of such series, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution or in any other manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, at any time, with respect to the Securities of such series, elect to have either Section 13.2 (if applicable) or Section 13.3 (if applicable) be applied to the Outstanding Securities of such series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII.
Section 13.2 Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions precedent set forth in Section 13.3 are satisfied (“Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture, insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, upon Company Order and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged under this Indenture: (A) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.4 as more fully set forth in such Section, payments of the principal of (any premium, if any) and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 6.7, 10.2, and 10.3, and any ancillary obligations, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, immunities, and other provisions in respect of the Trustee under this Indenture, and (D) this Article XIII. Subject to compliance with this Article XIII, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 13.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 13.3 with respect to the Securities of such series. Following a Defeasance, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.
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Section 13.3 Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under any covenant applicable to such Securities that is determined pursuant to Section 3.1 to be subject to this provision, and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Section 5.1(1) or (2) or determined pursuant to Section 3.1 to be subject to this provision shall not be deemed to be or result in an Event of Default. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition, or limitation set forth in any such Section whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere in this Indenture to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision in this Indenture or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected by such Covenant Defeasance.
Section 13.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions precedent to application of either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 to the Outstanding Securities of such series:
(1) | The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.9 and agrees to comply with the provisions of the Indenture applicable to it as if it were the Trustee under this Indenture), as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination of such money and U.S. Government Obligations, in each case sufficient, without reinvestment, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee (in the case that any part of the deposit consists of U.S. Government Obligations), to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee as previously provided) to pay and discharge, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series on the Maturity of such principal, any premium or interest, and any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to the Outstanding Securities of such series on their due dates. Before such a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date or dates in accordance with Article XI, which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing provisions. For this purpose, “U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (x) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or (y) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), which may include the Trustee, as custodian |
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with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt. |
(2) | No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing (A) on the date of such deposit or (B) insofar as subsections 5.1(1) and (2) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 120th day after the date of such deposit or, if longer, ending on the day following the expiration of the preference period applicable to the Company under federal law in respect of such deposit (it being understood that the condition in this clause (B) shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period). |
(3) | Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not (A) cause the Trustee in respect of the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 6.8 or for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any Securities of the Company or (B) result in the trust arising from such deposit to constitute, unless it is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. |
(4) | Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound. |
(5) | Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause any Securities of such series then listed on any registered national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to be delisted. |
(6) | In the case of an election under Section 13.2, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based on such ruling or change such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain, or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such 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 Defeasance had not occurred. |
(7) | In the case of an election under Section 13.3, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding 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. |
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(8) | The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (subject to customary qualifications and assumptions) after the period described in Section 13.4(2), the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally. |
(9) | Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions, or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection with such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance pursuant to Section 3.1. |
(10) | The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to either the Defeasance under Section 13.2 or the Covenant Defeasance under Section 13.3 (as the case may be) provided for in this Indenture have been complied with. |
Section 13.5 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including any proceeds) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.6, the Trustee and any such other qualifying trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.4 in respect of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall 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 (but not including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due on such Securities in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee, or other charge imposed on or assessed against the money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.4 or the principal and interest received in respect of such money or U.S. Government Obligations other than any such tax, fee, or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.
Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section 13.6 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S.
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Government Obligations in accordance with Section 13.5 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining, or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XIII until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money and U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 13.5; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any such Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be entitled, at its election, (a) to receive from the Trustee or Paying Agent, as applicable, that portion of such money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as applicable, equal to the amount of such payment, or (b) to be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money and U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.
ARTICLE XIV
Subordination Of Securities
Section 14.1 Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt.
The Company covenants and agrees that anything in this Indenture or the Securities of any series to the contrary notwithstanding, the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities of each series is subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt to the extent provided in this Indenture, and each Holder of Securities of each series, by such Holder’s acceptance of such Securities, likewise covenants and agrees to the subordination provided in this Indenture and shall be bound by the provisions of this Indenture. Senior Debt shall continue to be Senior Debt and entitled to the benefits of these subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification, or waiver of any term of the Senior Debt or extension or renewal of the Senior Debt.
In the event of
(1) | any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, readjustment, composition, or other similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property, |
(2) | any proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution, or other winding up of the Company, voluntary or involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, |
(3) | any assignment by the Company for the benefit of creditors, or |
(4) | any other marshaling of the assets of the Company, |
all Senior Debt (including any interest on such Senior Debt accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities, or other property, shall be made to any Holder of any of the Securities on account of such Securities. Any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities, or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect of such Senior Debt under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise (but for these subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the Securities of any series shall be paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Debt in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Debt (including any interest on such Senior Debt accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) shall have been paid in full.
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In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing with respect to Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities, together with the holders of any obligations of the Company ranking on a parity with the Securities, shall be entitled to be paid from the remaining assets of the Company the amounts at the time due and owing on account of unpaid principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities and such other obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property, or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or any obligations of the Company ranking junior to the Securities and such other obligations. The rights of holders of Senior Debt under this Section do not extend to any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, to the extent applied to the Trustee’s rights to compensation, reimbursement of expenses or indemnification.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of any character or any security, whether in cash, securities, or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect of such Senior Debt under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder in contravention of any of the terms of this Indenture such payment or distribution or security shall be received in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Senior Debt at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for applications to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Debt in full. In the event of the failure of the Trustee or any Holder to endorse or assign any such payment, distribution, or security, each holder of Senior Debt is irrevocably authorized to endorse or assign the same.
No present or future holder of any Senior Debt shall be prejudiced in the right to enforce subordination of the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company. Nothing contained in this Indenture shall impair, as between the Company and the Holders of Securities of each series, the obligation of the Company to pay to such Holders the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Securities or prevent the Trustee or the Holder from exercising all rights, powers and remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law or under this Indenture upon a default or Event of Default, all subject to the rights of the holders of the Senior Debt to receive cash, securities, or other property otherwise payable or deliverable to the Holders.
Senior Debt shall not be deemed to have been paid in full unless the holders thereof shall have received cash, securities, or other property equal to the amount of such Senior Debt then outstanding. Upon the payment in full of all Senior Debt, the Holders of Securities of each series shall be subrogated to all rights of any holders of Senior Debt to receive any further payments or distributions applicable to the Senior Debt until the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities of such series shall have been paid in full, and such payments or distributions received by such Holders, by reason of such subrogation, of cash, securities, or other property which otherwise would be paid or distributed to the holders of Senior Debt shall, as between the Company and its creditors other than the holders of Senior Debt, on the one hand, and such Holders, on the other hand, be deemed to be a payment by the Company on account of Senior Debt, and not on account of the Securities of such series.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else in this Article XIV contained, at any time after the 123rd day following the date of deposit of money and U.S. Government Obligations pursuant to Article IV or XIII (provided all conditions set out in the applicable Article shall have been satisfied), the funds (including U.S. Government Obligations) so deposited and any interest thereon will not be subject to any rights of holders of Senior Debt including, without limitation, those arising under this Article XIV; provided that no event described in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 5.1 has occurred during such 123-day period.
The provisions of this Section 14.1 shall not impair any rights, interests, remedies, or powers of any secured creditor of the Company in respect of any security interest the creation of which is not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture.
Section 14.2 No Payment When Senior Debt in Default.
In the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Senior Debt beyond any applicable grace period with respect to such Senior Debt, or in the event that any event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting the holders of such Senior Debt (or the trustee on behalf of the holders of such Senior Debt) to declare such Senior Debt due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, unless and until such event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist and any such declaration and its consequences shall have been rescinded or annulled, or (b) in the event any judicial proceeding shall be pending with respect to any such default in payment or event of default, then no payment (including any payment which may be payable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of the Company being subordinated to the payment of the Securities) shall be made by the Company on account of the principal of or any premium or interest on the Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 14.2 shall prevent the satisfaction of any sinking fund payment in accordance with Article XII by delivering and crediting pursuant to Section 12.2 Securities which have been acquired (upon redemption or otherwise) prior to such default in payment or event of default.
Subject to Section 14.5, in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall make any payment to the Trustee or the Holder of any Security prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section 14.2, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment, have been made known in a writing delivered to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee by a holder of Senior Debt or the Company or, as the case may be, such Holder, then and in such event such payment shall be paid over and delivered to the Company.
The provisions of this Section 14.2 shall not apply to any payment with respect to which Section 14.1 would be applicable.
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Section 14.3 Trustee and Holders of Securities May Rely on Certificate of Liquidating Agent; Trustee May Require Further Evidence as to Ownership of Senior Debt; Trustee Not Fiduciary to Holders of Senior Debt.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XIV, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon an order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution or winding up or liquidation or reorganization or arrangement proceedings are pending or upon a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, or other 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 indebtedness of the Company, the amount of or payable on and the amount or amounts paid or distributed on such Senior Debt or other indebtedness, and all other facts pertinent to such Senior Debt or other indebtedness or to this Article XIV. In the absence of any such bankruptcy trustee, receiver, assignee, or other Person, the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon a written notice by a Person representing itself, himself or herself to be a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder) as evidence that such Person is a holder of such Senior Debt (or is such a trustee or representative), the amount of or payable on and the amount or amounts paid or distributed on such Senior Debt or other indebtedness, and all other facts pertinent to such Senior Debt or other indebtedness. In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Debt to participate in any payments or distributions pursuant to this Article XIV, 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, as to the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, and as to other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XIV, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may withhold any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive payment. The Trustee, however, 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 it shall pay over or deliver to the Holders or the Company or any other Person, cash, securities, or other property to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise. 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 Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.
Section 14.4 Payment Permitted If No Default.
Nothing contained in this Article XIV (except in Section 14.5) or elsewhere in this Indenture, or in any of the Securities, shall prevent (a) the Company at any time, except during the pendency of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation, or reorganization proceedings referred to in Section 14.1 or under the conditions specified in Section 14.2, from making payments of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities or (b) the application by the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any moneys deposited with it under this Indenture to payments of the principal of or interest on the Securities, if, at the time of such deposit, a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or such Paying Agent, as the case may be, had not received at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee the Officers’ Certificate or written notice provided for in Section 14.5 of any event prohibiting the making of such deposit, or if, at the time of such deposit (whether or not in trust) by the Company with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) such payment would not have been prohibited by the provisions of this Article, and the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary received by it on or after such date.
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Section 14.5 Trustee Not Charged with Knowledge of Prohibition.
Anything in this Article XIV or elsewhere contained in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall not at any time be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee, and shall be entitled conclusively to assume that no such facts exist and that no event specified in Section 14.1 or Section 14.2 has happened, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (i) an Officers’ Certificate to that effect or (ii) notice in writing to that effect signed by or on behalf of the holder or holders, or their representatives, of Senior Debt who shall have been certified by the Company or otherwise established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee to be such holder or holders or representatives or from any trustee under any indenture pursuant to which such Senior Debt shall be outstanding; and before the receipt of any such Officers’ Certificate or written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the Officers’ Certificate or the written notice provided for in this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security) then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have all power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purpose for which such money were received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it during or after such three (3) Business Day period.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee and to the Paying Agent of any facts which would prohibit the payment of money or assets to or by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.
Section 14.6 Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
Each Holder of Securities by such Holder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as between such Holder and holders of Senior Debt as provided in this Article and appoints the Trustee its attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
Section 14.7 Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt.
The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Debt which may at the time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt. Nothing in this Article shall deprive the Trustee of any rights as such holder.
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Section 14.8 Article Applicable to Paying Agents.
In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting under this Indenture, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if the Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided, however, that Sections 14.5 and 14.7 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if the Company or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.
Section 14.9 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 Indenture shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions, and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge which any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with. The holders of Senior Debt may, at any time or from time to time and in their absolute discretion, change the manner, place, or terms of payment, change or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, any such Senior Debt, or amend or supplement any instrument pursuant to which any such Senior Debt is issued or by which it may be secured, or release any security, or exercise or refrain from exercising any other of their rights under the Senior Debt including, without limitation, the waiver of default, all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee and without affecting the obligations of the Company, the Trustee, or the Holders of the Securities under this Article.
Section 14.10 Trustee’s Rights to Compensation, Reimbursement of Expenses and Indemnification.
Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Sections 5.6 or 6.7. Section 14.11. Modification of Subordination Provisions.
Anything in Article IX or elsewhere contained in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, no modification or amendment and no supplemental indenture shall modify the subordination provisions of this Article XIV in a manner that would adversely affect the holders of Senior Debt.
***
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) transmission and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign) 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 or electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
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[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ Mark Ruggiero |
|
Name: | Mark Ruggiero | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Trustee | ||
By: | /s/ Steven J. Gomes |
|
Name: | Steven J. Gomes | |
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature page to Base Indenture]
Exhibit 4.2
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
and
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of March 25, 2025
to
INDENTURE
Dated as of March 25, 2025
7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Due 2035
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS | 2 | |||||
1.01. |
Relation to Base Indenture | 2 | ||||
1.02. |
Definition of Terms | 2 | ||||
ARTICLE 2 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 2035 SERIES AND GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES | 11 | |||||
2.01. |
Establishment of the Series of the Notes and Designation. | 11 | ||||
2.02. |
Maturity | 12 | ||||
2.03. |
Form, Payment and Appointment | 12 | ||||
2.04. |
Global Note | 12 | ||||
2.05. |
Interest | 13 | ||||
2.06. |
Subordination | 16 | ||||
2.07. |
Events of Default | 21 | ||||
2.08. |
Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 21 | ||||
2.09. |
No Sinking Fund | 23 | ||||
2.10. |
No Conversion or Exchange Rights | 23 | ||||
2.11. |
No Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 23 | ||||
ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES | 23 | |||||
3.01. |
Optional Redemption | 23 | ||||
3.02. |
Redemption Upon Special Events | 23 | ||||
3.03. |
Notice to Trustee | 24 | ||||
3.04. |
Partial Redemption | 24 | ||||
3.05. |
Notice to Holders | 24 | ||||
ARTICLE 4 FORM OF NOTES | 25 | |||||
4.01. |
Form of Notes | 25 | ||||
ARTICLE 5 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 25 | |||||
5.01. |
Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders | 25 | ||||
ARTICLE 6 IMMUNITY OF STOCKHOLDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | 26 | |||||
6.01. |
Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations | 26 | ||||
ARTICLE 7 MISCELLANEOUS | 26 | |||||
7.01. |
Ratification of Base Indenture | 26 | ||||
7.02. |
Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals | 26 | ||||
7.03. |
New York Law To Govern | 26 | ||||
7.04. |
Severability | 26 | ||||
7.05. |
Counterparts | 26 | ||||
7.06. |
Benefits of Supplemental Indenture | 27 | ||||
7.07. |
Conflict with Base Indenture | 27 | ||||
7.08. |
Provisions of Trust Indenture Act Controlling | 27 | ||||
7.09. |
Successors | 27 | ||||
7.10. |
PATRIOT Act | 27 |
THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of March 25, 2025, between INDEPENDENT BANK CORP., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “Company”), and U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association and limited purpose trust company, duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States, as Trustee (the “Trustee”), under the Base Indenture (as hereinafter defined).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered the Indenture, dated as of March 25, 2025 (the “Base Indenture” and, as hereby supplemented and amended, the “Indenture”), providing for the establishment from time to time of Series of the Company’s subordinated unsecured debt securities, which may be debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company (hereinafter called the “Securities”), and the issuance by the Company from time to time of Securities under the Indenture;
WHEREAS, Section 9.1 of the Base Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may enter into an indenture supplemental to the Base Indenture to establish the form or forms or terms of Securities of any Series as permitted by Section 2.1 and Section 3.1 of the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Base Indenture, the Company desires to establish a new Series of Securities under the Indenture to be known as its “7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Due 2035” (the “2035 Series”) and to establish and set the form and terms, provisions and conditions of the notes of the 2035 Series (the “Notes”), as provided in this Supplemental Indenture and to provide for the initial issuance of Notes of the 2035 Series in the aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000; and
WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture; and the Company confirms all requirements necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and enforceable instrument in accordance with its terms, and to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture, the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, have been satisfied; and the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized in all respects.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.01. Relation to Base Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of, and amends and supplements, the Base Indenture as set forth herein.
1.02. Definition of Terms. For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture:
(a) Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Base Indenture, provided that if the definition of a capitalized term defined in this Supplemental Indenture conflicts with the definition of that capitalized term in the Base Indenture, the definition of that capitalized term in this Supplemental Indenture shall control for purposes of this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Supplemental Indenture has the same meaning throughout this Supplemental Indenture;
(c) the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
(d) headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect interpretation;
(e) unless otherwise specified or unless the context requires otherwise, (i) all references in this Supplemental Indenture to Sections refer to the corresponding Sections of this Supplemental Indenture and (ii) the terms “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and any other word of similar import refer to this Supplemental Indenture; and
(f) for purposes of this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Section 1.02(f):
“2035 Series” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Base Indenture” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Benchmark” means, initially, Three-Month Term SOFR; provided that, if the Calculation Agent determines on or prior to the Reference Time for any Floating Rate Interest Period that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement for such Floating Rate Interest Period and any subsequent Floating Rate Interest Periods.
“Benchmark Replacement” means the Interpolated Benchmark with respect to the then-current Benchmark, plus the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment for such Benchmark; provided that if (a) the Calculation Agent cannot determine the Interpolated Benchmark as of the Benchmark Replacement Date or (b) the then-current Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR and a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR (in which event no Interpolated Benchmark with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR shall be determined), then “Benchmark Replacement” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Calculation Agent as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:
(1) Compounded SOFR;
(2) the sum of: (i) the alternate rate that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor and (ii) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; (3) the sum of: (i) the ISDA Fallback Rate and (ii) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; and
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(4) the sum of: (i) the alternate rate that has been selected by the Calculation Agent as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, giving due consideration to any industry-accepted rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. Dollar-denominated floating rate securities at such time, and (ii) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Calculation Agent as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:
(1) the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;
(2) if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, then the ISDA Fallback Adjustment; and
(3) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Calculation Agent giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. Dollar-denominated floating rate securities at such time.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative, or operational changes (including, without limitation, changes to the definition of “Floating Rate Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates with respect to each Floating Rate Interest Period and making payments of interest, rounding of amounts or tenors, and other administrative matters) that the Calculation Agent determines may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Calculation Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Calculation Agent determines that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as the Calculation Agent determines is reasonably necessary).
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
(1) in the case of clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the relevant Reference Time in respect of any determination; (2) in the case of clause (2) or (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark; or
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(3) in the case of clause (4) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.
For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.
“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
(1) if the Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR, the Company determines that the use of a forward-looking rate for a tenor of three months based on SOFR is not administratively feasible;
(2) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark, permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark;
(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark, the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark, which states that the administrator of the Benchmark has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark; or
(4) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that the Benchmark is no longer representative.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that is not a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to be closed in The City of New York, New York; provided that, when used in connection with an amount that bears interest at a rate based on SOFR or Term SOFR or any direct or indirect calculation or determination of SOFR or Term SOFR, the term “business day” means any such day that is also a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.
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“Calculation Agent” means the Person appointed by the Company prior to the commencement of the Floating Rate Period (which may include the Company or any of its Affiliates) to act in accordance with Section 2.05. The Company shall initially act as the Calculation Agent.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Compounded SOFR” means the compounded average of SOFRs for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, with the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate (which will be compounded in arrears with a lookback and/or suspension period as a mechanism to determine the interest amount payable prior to the end of each interest period) being established by the Calculation Agent in accordance with:
(1) the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining Compounded SOFR; provided that:
(2) if, and to the extent that, the Calculation Agent determines that Compounded SOFR cannot be determined in accordance with clause (1) above, then the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate that have been selected by the Calculation Agent giving due consideration to any industry-accepted market practice for U.S. Dollar-denominated floating rate securities at such time.
For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of Compounded SOFR shall exclude the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment and the spread specified herein.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, in its capacities as Trustee and Paying Agent, at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located in One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110, or such other address as the Trustee or Paying Agent may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee or Paying Agent (or such other address as such successor Trustee or Paying Agent, as applicable, may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).
“Corresponding Tenor” means (i) with respect to Term SOFR, three months, and (ii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement, a tenor (including overnight) having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as the applicable tenor for the then-current Benchmark.
“DTC” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03 hereof.
“Federal Reserve Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any successor regulatory authority with jurisdiction over bank holding companies.
“Fixed Period Interest Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a) hereof.
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“Fixed Rate Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a) hereof.
“Floating Period Interest Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b) hereof.
“Floating Rate Interest Period” means the period from and including the immediately preceding Floating Period Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for, to, but excluding, the applicable Floating Period Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date or Redemption Date, if applicable (except that the first Floating Rate Interest Period will commence on April 1, 2030).
“Floating Rate Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b) hereof.
“FRBNY’s Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “FRBNY”) at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source. The foregoing Internet website is an inactive textual reference only, meaning that the information contained on the website is not part of this Supplemental Indenture or incorporated by reference herein or therein.
“Global Note” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04 hereof.
“Indenture” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Independent Bank Regulatory Counsel” means a law firm, a member of a law firm or an independent practitioner that is experienced in matters of federal bank holding company and banking regulatory law, including the laws, rules and guidelines of the Federal Reserve Board relating to regulatory capital, and shall include any Person who, under the standards of professional conduct then prevailing and applicable to such counsel, would not have a conflict of interest in representing the Company or the Trustee in connection with providing the legal opinion contemplated by the definition of the term “Tier 2 Capital Event.”
“Independent Tax Counsel” means a law firm, a member of a law firm or an independent practitioner that is experienced in matters of federal income taxation law, including the deductibility of interest payments made with respect to corporate debt instruments, and shall include any Person who, under the standards of professional conduct then prevailing and applicable to such counsel, would not have a conflict of interest in representing the Company or the Trustee in connection with providing the legal opinion contemplated by the definition of the term “Tax Event.”
“Interest Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b) hereof.
“Interpolated Benchmark” with respect to the Benchmark means the rate determined by the Calculation Agent for the Corresponding Tenor by interpolating on a linear basis between: (1) the Benchmark for the longest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is shorter than the Corresponding Tenor, and (2) the Benchmark for the shortest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is longer than the Corresponding Tenor.
“ISDA” means the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor.
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“ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by ISDA, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.
“ISDA Fallback Adjustment” means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor.
“ISDA Fallback Rate” means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.
“Maturity Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02 hereof.
“Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Optional Redemption” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01 hereof.
“Redemption Date” means each date, if any, on which Notes are redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions of Section 3.01 or Section 3.02 hereof.
“Reference Time” with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (i) if the Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR, the time determined by the Calculation Agent after giving effect to Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions, and (ii) if the Benchmark is not Three-Month Term SOFR, the time determined by the Calculation Agent after giving effect to the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the FRBNY, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the FRBNY or any successor thereto.
“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee or the Paying Agent, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or Paying Agent, as applicable, including any vice president, assistant vice president, trust officer or any other officer of such Trustee or Paying Agent who customary performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, or any other officer of such Trustee or Paying Agent to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of, familiarity and expertise with the particular subject.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Senior Indebtedness” means the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, including interest accruing after the commencement of any bankruptcy proceeding relating to the Company, on, or substantially similar payments the Company makes in respect of the following categories of debt, whether that debt is outstanding on the date of execution of this Supplemental Indenture or thereafter incurred, created or assumed:
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(1) the Company’s other indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, or bonds or other securities issued under the provisions of any indenture, fiscal agency agreement, debenture or note purchase agreement or other agreement, including any senior debt securities that may be offered, including by means of a base prospectus and one or more prospectus supplements;
(2) the Company’s indebtedness for money borrowed or represented by purchase-money obligations, as defined below;
(3) the Company’s indebtedness to general creditors;
(4) obligations as lessee under leases of property whether made as part of a sale and leaseback transaction to which the Company is a party or otherwise;
(5) indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of others in respect of which the Company is liable contingently or otherwise to pay or advance money or property or as guarantor, endorser or otherwise or which the Company has agreed to purchase or otherwise acquire and indebtedness of partnerships and joint ventures that is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements;
(6) reimbursement and other obligations relating to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and similar obligations;
(7) obligations under various hedging arrangements and agreements, including interest rate and currency hedging agreements and swap and non-swap forward agreements;
(8) all of the Company’s obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, but excluding trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business; and
(9) deferrals, renewals or extensions of any of the indebtedness or obligations described in the clauses above,
in each case whether outstanding on the date hereof or incurred later, other than obligations ranking on a parity with the Notes or ranking junior to the Notes.
However, “Senior Indebtedness” excludes:
(1) any indebtedness, obligation or liability referred to in the definition of Senior Indebtedness above as to which, in the instrument creating, governing or evidencing that indebtedness, obligation or liability, it is expressly provided that such indebtedness, obligation or liability is not senior in right of payment to, is junior in right of payment to, or ranks equally in right of payment with, other specified types of indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of the Company, which other specified types of indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of the Company include the Notes; (2) any indebtedness, obligation or liability that is subordinated to other of the Company’s indebtedness, obligations or liabilities to substantially the same extent as or to a greater extent than the Notes are subordinated;
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(3) all obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by the Company in the ordinary course of business; and
(4) the Notes and any other securities issued pursuant to the Indenture and the Company’s outstanding junior subordinated debentures and, unless expressly provided in the terms thereof, any of the Company’s indebtedness to the Company’s subsidiaries.
As used above, the term “purchase-money obligations” means indebtedness, obligations evidenced by a note, debenture, bond or other instrument, whether or not secured by a lien or other security interest, issued to evidence the obligation to pay or a guarantee of the payment of, and any deferred obligation for the payment of, the purchase price of property but excluding indebtedness or obligations for which recourse is limited to the property purchased, issued or assumed as all or a part of the consideration for the acquisition of property or services, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, but does not include any trade accounts payable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Federal Reserve Board (or other competent regulatory agency or authority) promulgates any rule or issues any interpretation that defines general creditor(s), the main purpose of which is to establish a criteria for determining whether the subordinated debt of a bank holding company is to be included in its capital, then the term “general creditors” as used in this definition of “Senior Indebtedness” in this Supplemental Indenture will have the meaning as described in that rule or interpretation.
“Series” means a series of Securities designated or established pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Base Indenture, all of which Securities in such Series shall have like terms and conditions (other than the principal amount thereof).
“SOFR” means the secured overnight financing rate published by the FRBNY, as the administrator of the Benchmark (or any successor administrator), on the FRBNY’s Website.
“Supplemental Indenture” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Tax Event” shall mean the receipt by the Company of an opinion of Independent Tax Counsel or a nationally recognized accounting firm to the effect that:
(1) an amendment to or change (including any announced prospective amendment or change) in any law, treaty, statute or code, or any regulation thereunder, of the United States or any of its political subdivisions or taxing authorities; (2) a judicial decision, administrative action, official administrative pronouncement, ruling, regulatory procedure, regulation, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt or promulgate any ruling, regulatory procedure or regulation (any of the foregoing, an “administrative or judicial action”);
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(3) an amendment to or change in any official position with respect to, or any interpretation of, an administrative or judicial action or a law or regulation of the United States that differs from the previously generally accepted position or interpretation; or
(4) a threatened challenge asserted in writing in connection with an audit of the Company’s federal income tax returns or positions or a similar audit of any of its Subsidiaries, or a publicly known threatened challenge asserted in writing against any other taxpayer that has raised capital through the issuance of securities that are substantially similar to the Notes,
in each case, occurring or becoming publicly known on or after the date of original issuance of the Notes, resulting in more than an insubstantial increase in the risk that the interest paid by the Company on the Notes is not, or within 90 days of receipt of such opinion of tax counsel, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
“Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate for the applicable Corresponding Tenor based on SOFR as published by the Term SOFR Administrator.
“Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of Three-Month Term SOFR selected by the Calculation Agent in its reasonable discretion).
“Three-Month Term SOFR” means, for the purpose of calculating the interest on the Notes for each floating rate interest period during the Floating Rate Period when the Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR, the rate for Term SOFR for a tenor of three months that is published by the Term SOFR Administrator at the Reference Time for any Floating Rate Interest Period, as determined by the Calculation Agent after giving effect to Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions. All percentages used in or resulting from any calculation of Three-Month Term SOFR shall be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one-hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with 0.000005% rounded up to 0.00001%.
“Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions” means any determination, decision, or election with respect to any technical, administrative, or operational matter (including with respect to the manner and timing of the publication of Three-Month Term SOFR, or changes to the definition of “Floating Rate Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining Three-Month Term SOFR with respect to each Floating Rate Interest Period and making payments of interest, rounding of amounts or tenors, and other administrative matters) that the Calculation Agent determines may be appropriate to reflect the use of Three-Month Term SOFR as the Benchmark in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Calculation Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Calculation Agent determines that no market practice for the use of Three-Month Term SOFR exists, in such other manner as the Calculation Agent determines is reasonably necessary).
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“Tier 2 Capital Event” shall mean the receipt by the Company of an opinion of Independent Bank Regulatory Counsel to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any rules, guidelines or policies of an applicable regulatory authority for the Company or (b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Notes, the Notes do not constitute, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion will not constitute, Tier 2 capital (or its then equivalent if the Company were subject to such capital requirement) for purposes of capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve Board (or any successor regulatory authority with jurisdiction over bank holding companies), as then in effect and applicable to the Company.
“Trustee” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
ARTICLE 2
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 2035 SERIES AND
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES
2.01. Establishment of the Series of the Notes and Designation.
(a) There is hereby authorized and established a Series of Securities designated as the “7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Due 2035,” which Series of Securities is unsecured, subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness of the Company as provided herein and unlimited in the aggregate principal amount that may be issued. The Notes initially issued pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000, which amount shall be set forth in a Company Order pursuant to Article III of the Base Indenture, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Notes in accordance with such Company Order and the Indenture, including Section 3.3 of the Base Indenture. The Securities that are a part of such Series of Securities shall be in the form and have the terms, provisions and conditions as set forth in the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(b) The Company may, from time to time, without notice to, or the consent of, the Holders of the Notes, issue additional Securities ranking equally with the Notes and identical to the Notes issued on the date hereof in all respects (except for the issue date, the offering price, the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such additional Securities and the first payment of interest following the issue date of such additional Securities) in order that such additional Securities may be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes and have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Notes.
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However, any additional Securities of the series of which the Notes are a part that are issued and are not fungible with the outstanding Notes of such series for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be issued under one or more separate CUSIP numbers and ISIN numbers. No limit exists on the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of this series that the Company may issue in the future.
2.02. Maturity. The date upon which the Notes shall become due and payable at final maturity, together with any accrued and unpaid interest then owing, is April 1, 2035 (the “Maturity Date”).
2.03. Form, Payment and Appointment. Except as provided in the eighth and ninth paragraphs of Section 3.5 of the Base Indenture, the Notes will be issued only in book-entry form, will be represented by one or more Global Notes (as defined below) registered in the name of or held by The Depository Trust Company (and any successor organization thereto) (“DTC”) or its nominee. Principal or the Redemption Price, if any, of a Note shall be payable to the Person in whose name that Note is registered on the Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as the case may be, provided that the Redemption Price, if any, principal of and interest on the Notes represented by one or more Global Notes (as hereinafter defined) registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be payable in immediately available funds to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such Global Notes. The principal of any certificated Notes will be payable at the Place of Payment set forth below.
The Notes shall have such other terms as are set forth in the form thereof attached hereto as Exhibit A, which is incorporated herein and made a part hereof.
The Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent, and Paying Agent for the Notes shall initially be the Trustee. The Company will appoint a Person to act as the Calculation Agent as provided under the definition of Calculation Agent and Section 2.05.
The Place of Payment for the Notes shall be an office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office of the Paying Agent located in One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.
The Notes will be issued and may be transferred only in denominations of $1,000 or any amount in excess thereof that is an integral multiple of $1,000. The Company will pay principal of and interest on the Notes in U.S. dollars.
2.04. Global Note. The Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more fully registered global notes (each such global note, a “Global Note”) registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with DTC or its designated custodian or such other Depositary as any Officer of the Company may from time to time designate. Unless and until a Global Note is exchanged for definitive certificated Notes, such Global Note may be transferred, in whole but not in part, and any payments on the Notes shall be made, only to DTC or a nominee of DTC, or to a successor Depositary selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary as provided in the Indenture.
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2.05. Interest.
(a) From and including March 25, 2025, to, but excluding, April 1, 2030 (unless redeemed prior to such date pursuant to Section 3.02 hereof) (the “Fixed Rate Period”), the Notes will bear interest at a rate of 7.25% per year. During the Fixed Rate Period, interest on the Notes will accrue from and including March 25, 2025, and will be payable semiannually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year during the Fixed Rate Period (each such date, a “Fixed Period Interest Payment Date”), commencing on October 1, 2025. The interest payable on the Notes on any Fixed Period Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Holder at the close of business on March 15 or September 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the Fixed Period Interest Payment Date. The last interest payment date for the fixed rate period will be April 1, 2030.
(b) From and including April 1, 2030, to, but excluding, the Maturity Date (unless redeemed prior to such date pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 3.02 hereof) (the “Floating Rate Period”), the Notes will bear interest at a floating rate per year equal to the Benchmark, plus 353 basis points. During the Floating Rate Period, interest on the Notes will accrue from and including April 1, 2030 and will be payable quarterly in arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year (each such date, a “Floating Period Interest Payment Date” and, together with any Fixed Period Interest Payment Date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on July 1, 2030. The interest payable on the Notes on any Floating Period Interest Payment Date will, except as noted in the immediately succeeding sentence, be paid to the Holder at the close of business on March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the Floating Period Interest Payment Date. However, interest that the Company pays on the Maturity Date will be paid to the Person to whom the principal will be payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Benchmark is less than zero, then the Benchmark shall be deemed to be zero. The Calculation Agent will provide the Company (if the Company is not the Calculation Agent) and the Trustee with written notice of the interest rate in effect on the Notes promptly after the Reference Time (or such other date of determination for the applicable Benchmark).
(c) During the Fixed Rate Period, interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. During the Floating Rate Period, interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed. Dollar amounts resulting from those calculations will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.
(d) The Company or the Calculation Agent, as applicable, shall calculate the amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date and the Trustee shall have no duty to confirm or verify any such calculation. If any Fixed Period Interest Payment Date for the Notes or the date for the payment of principal for the Notes occurring during the Fixed Rate Period falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Company will postpone the interest or principal payment to the next succeeding Business Day, but the payments made on such dates will be treated as being made on the date that the payment was first due and the Holders of the Notes will not be entitled to any further interest, principal or other payments with respect to such postponements.
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If any Floating Period Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Company will postpone the interest payment or the payment of principal and interest at the Maturity Date to the next succeeding Business Day (and, with respect to the Maturity Date, no additional interest will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after the Maturity Date) unless, with respect to a Floating Period Interest Payment Date only, such day falls in the next calendar month, in which case the Floating Period Interest Payment Date will instead be the immediately preceding day that is a Business Day, and interest will accrue to, but excluding, such Floating Period Interest Payment Date as so adjusted.
(e) The Company shall appoint a Calculation Agent prior to the commencement of the Floating Rate Period. The Company will act as the initial Calculation Agent. The calculation of the interest rate for any Floating Rate Interest Period by the Calculation Agent will (in the absence of manifest error) be conclusive and binding upon the beneficial owners and Holders of the Notes, the Company (if the Company is not also the Calculation Agent) and the Trustee. The Calculation Agent’s determination of any interest rate, and its calculation of interest payments, for any Floating Rate Interest Period, will be maintained on file at the Calculation Agent’s principal offices, will be made available to any Holder of the Notes upon request. The Calculation Agent shall have all the rights, protections and indemnities afforded to the Trustee under the Indenture. The Calculation Agent may be removed by the Company at any time. If the Calculation Agent is unable or unwilling to act as Calculation Agent or is removed by the Company, the Company will promptly appoint a replacement Calculation Agent. The Trustee shall not be under any duty to succeed to, assume or otherwise perform, any duties of the Calculation Agent, or to appoint a successor or replacement in the event of the Calculation Agent’s resignation or removal or to replace the Calculation Agent in the event of a default, breach or failure of performance on the part of the Calculation Agent with respect to the Calculation Agent’s duties and obligations under the Indenture. For the avoidance of doubt, if at any time there is no Calculation Agent appointed by the Company, then the Company shall be the Calculation Agent. By its acquisition of the Notes, each Holder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each beneficial owner) acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound by the Company’s and the Calculation Agent’s determination of the interest rate for each Floating Rate Interest Period, including the Company’s and its determination of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, Benchmark Replacement Date, Benchmark Replacement, Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, and Benchmark Transition Event, including as may occur without any prior notice from the Company or the Calculation Agent and without the need for the Company or it to obtain any further consent from any Holder.
(f) Effect of Benchmark Transition Event.
(1) If the Calculation Agent determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred on or prior to the Reference Time in respect of any Floating Rate Interest Period during the Floating Rate Period, then the Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating to the Notes during such Floating Rate Interest Period and all subsequent Floating Rate Interest Periods. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Calculation Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time.
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(2) Notwithstanding anything set forth in Section 2.05(b) above, if the Calculation Agent determines on or prior to the relevant Reference Time that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR, then the provisions set forth in this Section 2.05(f) will thereafter apply to all determinations of the Benchmark used to calculate the interest rate on the Notes for each Floating Rate Interest Period. In accordance with the benchmark transition provisions, if the Calculation Agent determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred on or prior to the Reference Time in respect of any Floating Rate Interest Period during the Floating Rate Period, then the Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating to the Notes during such Floating Rate Interest Period and the remainder of the Floating Rate Period.
(3) The Calculation Agent is expressly authorized to make certain determinations, decisions, and elections under the terms of the Notes, including with respect to the use of Three-Month Term SOFR as the Benchmark for the Floating Rate Period and under this Section 2.05(f). Any determination, decision, or election that may be made by the Company or by the Calculation Agent under the terms of the Notes, including any determination with respect to the use of Three-Month Term SOFR as the Benchmark for the Floating Rate Period, any determination under the benchmark transition provisions, any determination of a tenor, rate, or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance, or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection: (A) will be conclusive and binding on the Holders of the Notes, the Company (if the Company is not also the Calculation Agent) and the Trustee absent manifest error, (B) if made by the Company as Calculation Agent, will be made in the Company’s sole discretion, (C) if made by a Calculation Agent other than the Company, will be made after consultation with the Company, and the Calculation Agent will not make any such determination, decision, or election to which the Company reasonably objects and (D) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, shall become effective without consent from the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee or any other person. If the Calculation Agent fails to make any determination, decision, or election that it is required to make under the terms of the applicable Notes, then the Company will make such determination, decision, or election on the same basis as described above.
(4) The Company (or the Calculation Agent) shall notify the Trustee in writing (i) upon the occurrence of the Benchmark Transition Event or the Benchmark Replacement Date, and (ii) of any Benchmark Replacements or any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes after a Benchmark Transition Event.
(5) The Trustee (acting in any capacity) shall have no (i) responsibility or liability for the (A) Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions, (B) selection of an alternative reference rate to Three-Month Term SOFR (including, without limitation, whether the conditions for the designation of such rate have been satisfied or whether such rate is a Benchmark Replacement or an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement), (C) determination or calculation of a Benchmark Replacement, or (D) determination of whether a Benchmark Transition Event or Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred, and in each such case under clauses (A) through (D) above shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon the selection, determination, and/or calculation thereof as provided by the Company or its Calculation Agent, as applicable, and (ii) liability for any failure or delay in performing its duties hereunder as a result of the unavailability of a Benchmark rate as described in the definition thereof, including, without limitation, as a result of the Company’s or the Calculation Agent’s failure to select a Benchmark Replacement or the Calculation Agent’s failure to calculate a Benchmark.
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The Trustee shall be entitled to rely conclusively on all notices from the Company or the Calculation Agent regarding any Benchmark or Benchmark Replacement, including, without limitation, in regards to Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions, a Benchmark Transition Event, Benchmark Replacement Date, and Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for the actions or omissions of the Calculation Agent, or any failure or delay in the performance of the Calculation Agent’s duties or obligations, nor shall it be under any obligation to monitor or oversee the performance of the Calculation Agent. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely conclusively on any determination made, and any instruction, notice, Officers’ Certificate or other instruction or information provided by the Company or the Calculation Agent without independent verification, investigation or inquiry of any kind. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
(6) If the then-current Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR, the Calculation Agent will have the right to establish Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions, and if any of the foregoing provisions concerning the calculation of the interest rate and interest payments during the Floating Rate Period are inconsistent with any of Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions determined by the Calculation Agent, then the relevant Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions will apply. Furthermore, if the Calculation Agent determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR at any time when any of the Notes are outstanding, then the foregoing provisions concerning the calculation of the interest rate and interest payments during the Floating Rate Period will be modified in accordance with this Section 2.05(f).
2.06. Subordination.
(a) Solely with respect to the Notes, and not for the purposes of any other Securities, Article XIV of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with the corresponding provisions of this Section 2.06.
(b) The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Notes by the Holder’s acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of and interest on each and all of the Notes is and will be expressly subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness to the extent and in the manner described in this Section 2.06.
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(c) In the event of the insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation or other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Notes and the Holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law):
(1) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall first be entitled to receive payment in full in accordance with the terms of such Senior Indebtedness of the principal thereof, premium, if any, and the interest due thereon (including interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding for the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect) before the Holders of the Notes are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal of or interest on indebtedness evidenced by the Notes;
(2) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Notes would be entitled except for the provisions of this Section 2.06, including any such payment or distribution that may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of the Company being subordinated to the payment of the Notes, shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, whether a bankruptcy trustee, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, in accordance with the priorities then existing among holders of Senior Indebtedness for payment of the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal, premium, if any, and interest (including interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding for the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect) on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any other concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; it being understood that if the Holders of the Notes shall fail to file a proper claim in the form required by any proceeding referred to in this subparagraph (ii) prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim or claims, then the holders of Senior Indebtedness are hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim or claims for and on behalf of the Holders of the Notes, in the form required in any such proceeding; and
(3) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, including any such payment or distribution that may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of the Company being subordinate to the payment of the Notes shall be received by the Trustee or Holders of the Notes before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over to the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent or other Person making payment of assets of the Company for all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
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Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Notes shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the principal of and interest on the Notes shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to holders of such Senior Indebtedness to which the Holders of the Notes would be entitled except for the provisions of this Section 2.06, of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Notes, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Section 2.06 are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Notes, on the one hand, and the holders of Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Section 2.06, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in which such proceeding for the insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation or other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company is pending or upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Notes for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount hereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Section 2.06. In the absence of any such liquidating trustee, agent or other Person, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon a written notice by a Person representing itself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder) as evidence that such Person is a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or is such a trustee or representative). With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Section 2.06, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Section 2.06 against the Trustee. The Trustee, however, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness by reason of the execution of the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture, or any other supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 3.1 or Article IX of the Base Indenture, and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders of the Notes or the Company moneys or assets to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Section 2.06.
(d) If any default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Senior Indebtedness has occurred and is continuing, beyond any applicable grace period, or if an event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any Senior Indebtedness, or would occur as a result of a payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes being made and that event of default would permit the holders of any Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of the holders thereof) to accelerate the maturity thereof, then, unless and until such default or event of default has not been cured, waived and otherwise ceased to exist, no payment or principal of or interest on the Notes, shall be made by the Company.
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(e) Nothing contained in the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture, any other supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 3.1 or Article IX of the Base Indenture, or in any of the Notes shall: (i) impair, as between the Company, its creditors, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and Holders of the Notes, the obligations of the Company, which are unconditional and absolute, to make, or prevent the Company from making, at any time except as provided in clauses (c) or (d) of this Section 2.06, payments of principal of, or interest (including interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding for the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar law now or hereafter in effect) on, the Notes, as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Notes; (ii) affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Notes and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness; (iii) except as otherwise expressly provided in the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes with respect to the limitation on the rights of the Trustee and the Holders of Notes, to accelerate the maturity of the Notes and pursue remedies upon such an acceleration, prevent the Holder of any Notes or the Trustee from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default thereunder, subject to the rights, if any, under this Section 2.06 of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of such remedy; or (iv) prevent the application by the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any moneys deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of, or interest on, the Notes or prevent the receipt by the Trustee or any Paying Agent of such moneys, if, prior to the third Business Day prior to such deposit, the Trustee or such Paying Agent did not have written notice of any event prohibiting the making of such deposit by the Company.
(f) Each Holder by his acceptance of any Notes 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 the Indenture, and appoints the Trustee such Holder’s attorney-in-fact for such purposes, including, in the event of any termination, 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 by the Company, a marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company) tending toward the liquidation of the property and assets of the Company, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of the Notes in the form required in those proceedings.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the Company from making any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.06. Neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be charged with the knowledge of the existence of any default or event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness or of any other facts that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee or the Paying Agent unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and the Paying Agent, as applicable, shall have received notice in writing at its respective Corporate Trust Office to that effect signed by an Officer of the Company, or by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or agent thereof; and prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee and Paying Agent shall, subject to Article XIV of the Base Indenture, be entitled to assume that no such facts exist; provided that, if the Trustee or the Paying Agent, respectively shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 2.06 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which, by the terms of the Indenture, any monies shall become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note), then, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee and Paying Agent 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 prior date except for an acceleration of the Notes prior to such application.
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The foregoing shall not apply to the Paying Agent if the Paying Agent is the Company. The Trustee and the Paying Agent 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 Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of, or agent of, such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or agent on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee or the Paying Agent determines in good faith that any evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Section 2.06, the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as applicable, may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee or Paying Agent, as applicable, as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Section 2.06 and, if such evidence is not furnished to the Trustee or Paying Agent, as applicable, the Trustee or Paying Agent, as applicable, may defer any payment to such Person pending such evidence being furnished to the Trustee or a judicial determination that such Person has the right to receive such payment.
(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.06 or any other provisions of the Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any event that would prohibit the making of any payment or moneys to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the representative of any such holder.
(h) The Trustee shall be entitled to all of the rights set forth in this Section 2.06 in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it in its individual capacity to the extent set forth in Section 6.5 of the Base Indenture.
(i) The failure to make a payment pursuant to the Notes by reason of any provision in this Section 2.06 shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a default or any Event of Default.
(j) Nothing contained in this Section 2.06 shall apply to the claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.7 of the Base Indenture.
(k) The subordination provisions in this Section 2.06 do not apply to amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to other sections of the Indenture, including Section 6.7 of the Base Indenture.
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2.07. Events of Default. The following Events of Default will apply with respect to the Notes:
(a) The Events of Default set forth in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 5.1 of the Base Indenture;
(b) default in the payment of any interest on the Notes or any other Securities of the 2035 Series when such interest becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
(c) default in the payment of any principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes or any other Securities of the 2035 Series when due (whether at Maturity or upon the Redemption Date); and
(d) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in the Indenture or any Note (other than a covenant or warranty for which the consequences of breach or nonperformance are addressed elsewhere in this Section 2.07 or a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in the Base Indenture, whether or not by means of a supplemental indenture, solely for the benefit of Securities of a Series other than the 2035 Series), and continuance of such default or breach (without such default or breach having been waived in accordance of the provisions of the Indenture) for a period of 90 consecutive 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 principal amount of the Notes then outstanding a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under the Indenture.
2.08. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
(a) Solely with respect to the Notes, and not for the purposes of any other Securities, Section 5.2 of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with the corresponding provisions of this Section 2.08.
(b) If an Event of Default specified in clause (1) or (2) of Section 5.1 of the Base Indenture occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all of the Securities of such Series Outstanding, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such Series, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all Securities of all Series Outstanding shall become and be immediately due and payable without the need for any action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities of such Series.
Notwithstanding anything in the Indenture to the contrary, because the Company will treat the Notes as Tier 2 capital (or its then equivalent if the Company were subject to such capital requirement) for purposes of capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve Board as then in effect and applicable to the Company, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default other than an Event of Default set forth in clause (1) or (2) of Section 5.1 of the Base Indenture, neither the Trustee nor the Holders of the Notes may accelerate the maturity of the Notes and make the principal of, and any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes, immediately due and payable.
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(c) At any time after acceleration with respect to Securities of one or more Series and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as provided below in this Article Two, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected Series (voting as one class), by written notice to the Company and the Trustee may waive all defaults with respect to all affected Series, and may rescind and annul the consequences of the Event of Default, if:
(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay (or, to the extent that the terms of the Securities of such Series established pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Base Indenture expressly provide for payment to be made in shares of common stock of the Company or other securities or property, shares of common stock or other securities or property, together with cash in lieu of fractional shares or securities, sufficient to pay)
(i) | all overdue installments of any interest on any Securities of such Series that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, |
(ii) | the principal of and any premium on any Securities of such Series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest thereon at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for in or with respect to such Securities, or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by such Securities, |
(iii) | to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest upon installments of any interest, if any, which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for in or with respect to such Securities, or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by 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 all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7 of the Base Indenture; and |
(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of all affected Series other than the nonpayment of the principal of, or any premium and interest on, Securities of the affected Series that shall have become due solely by such acceleration, shall have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13 of the Base Indenture.
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No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
2.09. No Sinking Fund. The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund and Article XII of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes.
2.10. No Conversion or Exchange Rights. The Notes shall not be convertible into or exchangeable for any equity securities, other securities or other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary.
2.11. No Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. Article XIII of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES
3.01. Optional Redemption. The Notes shall not be redeemable prior to April 1, 2030, except as provided in Section 3.02. The Company may redeem the Notes, at its sole option, beginning with the Interest Payment Date of April 1, 2030 and on any Interest Payment Date thereafter, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, and any such redemption may be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent set forth in the applicable notice of redemption (an “Optional Redemption”). No such Optional Redemption of the Notes by the Company prior to the Maturity Date shall be made without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, to the extent that such approval is then required under the rules of the Federal Reserve Board. The Notes are not subject to repayment at the option of the Holders.
3.02. Redemption Upon Special Events. Other than in the case of an Optional Redemption, the Notes may not be redeemed by the Company prior to the Maturity Date, except the Company may, at its sole option, redeem the Notes at any time before the Maturity Date in whole, but not in part, upon or after the occurrence of a Tax Event, a Tier 2 Capital Event or if the Company is required to register as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Any such redemption of the Notes will be at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, and any such redemption may be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent set forth in the applicable notice of redemption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on any Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to the applicable Redemption Date will be payable on such Interest Payment Dates to the Holders at the close of business on the relevant record dates specified in Sections 2.05(a) and (b) above in accordance with the Notes and this Indenture. No such redemption of the Notes by the Company prior to the Maturity Date shall be made without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, to the extent that such approval is then required under the rules of the Federal Reserve Board.
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3.03. Notice to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem the Notes pursuant to the redemption provisions of Section 3.01 or Section 3.02 of this Supplemental Indenture, at least 10 days prior to the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to in writing by the Trustee), the Company shall furnish to the Trustee a Company Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the applicable section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed, (iv) the redemption price and (v) a Company Board Resolution.
3.04. Partial Redemption. In the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 3.01, if less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed in accordance with the rules of DTC (or, in the case of any certificated Notes, by lot or in such other manner the Trustee deems fair and appropriate). The Trustee shall promptly notify in writing the Company of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Notes selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in minimum amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; no Notes of a principal amount of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part, except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.
3.05. Notice to Holders. In the case of any redemption, at least 10 days but no more than 60 days before the Redemption Date, the Company shall send in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary, or if the Notes are not then global Securities the Company shall mail, or cause to be mailed, a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address appearing on the register. The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including the CUSIP and/or ISIN numbers thereof, if any) and shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date;
(b) the principal amount of the Notes that are being redeemed;
(c) each Place of Payment;
(d) the redemption price and accrued interest to the Redemption Date that is payable pursuant to Article XI of the Base Indenture;
(e) if fewer than all outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the portion of the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date and upon surrender of such Notes, if applicable, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued;
(f) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(g) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(h) that unless the Company defaults in making the redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date; (i) if such notice is conditioned upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such conditions precedent;
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(j) the applicable section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(k) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP and/or ISIN numbers, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
The Company may state in the notice of redemption that payment of the redemption price and performance of its obligations with respect to redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.
At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 10 days prior to the Redemption Date, a Company Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and attaching a copy of such notice, which shall set forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in this Article 3. If any condition precedent to a redemption has not been satisfied, the Company will provide written notice to the Trustee not less than two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date that such condition precedent has not been satisfied, that the notice of redemption is rescinded or delayed and that the redemption subject to the satisfaction of such condition precedent shall not occur or shall be delayed (or that such condition precedent is waived and such redemption shall occur or shall be delayed). The Trustee shall promptly send a copy of such notice to the Holders of the Notes.
ARTICLE 4
FORM OF NOTES
4.01. Form of Notes. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication thereon are to be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto, with such changes therein as the officers of the Company executing the Notes (by manual or facsimile signature) may approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by their execution thereof. To the extent the terms and conditions of the Notes are not set forth herein, such terms and conditions of the Notes shall be as set forth in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto.
ARTICLE 5
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
5.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders. Solely with respect to the Notes, and not for the purposes of any other Securities, Section 9.1 of the Base Indenture shall be amended to (i) delete the word “or” at the end of clause (12) thereof, (ii) replace the period at the end of clause (13) thereof with “; or” and (iii) add a new clause (14) immediately after clause (13), which shall read as follows:
(14) to implement in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and any supplemental indenture any Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions or any Benchmark Transition provisions after a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred (or in anticipation thereof).
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ARTICLE 6
IMMUNITY OF STOCKHOLDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS
6.01. Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations. No recourse will be available for the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note, for any claim based thereon, or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, shareholder, employee, agent, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person to the Company, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Supplemental Indenture and the issuance of the Notes.
ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS
7.01. Ratification of Base Indenture. Solely with respect to the Notes, the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.
7.02. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as statements of the Company and not those of the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or of the proceeds thereof.
7.03. New York Law To Govern. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE OR INSTRUMENTS ENTERED INTO AND, IN EACH CASE, PERFORMED IN SAID STATE.
7.04. Severability. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired by such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.
7.05. Counterparts. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic format (i.e., “.pdf” or “.tif”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronic format (i.e., “.pdf” or “.tif”) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
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This Supplemental Indenture shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) any electronic signature permitted by the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (collectively, “Signature Law”); (ii) an original manual signature; or (iii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature. Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof.
7.06. Benefits of Supplemental Indenture. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties to this Supplemental Indenture and their successors under this Supplemental Indenture and the Holders from time to time, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Supplemental Indenture.
7.07. Conflict with Base Indenture. If any provision of this Supplemental Indenture relating to the Notes is inconsistent with any provision of the Base Indenture, such provision of this Supplemental Indenture shall control.
7.08. Provisions of Trust Indenture Act Controlling. This Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of the Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. If any provision of this Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under the Trust Indenture Act to be a part of and govern this Supplemental Indenture, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control.
7.09. Successors. All agreements of the Company in the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.
7.10. PATRIOT Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with the Customer Identification Program (CIP) requirements under the USA PATRIOT Act and its implementing regulations, the Trustee in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties hereby agree that they shall provide the Trustee with such information as it may request including, but not limited to, each party’s name, physical address, tax identification number and other information that will help the Trustee identify and verify each party’s identity such as organizational documents, certificate of good standing, license to do business, or other pertinent identifying information.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first written above.
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ Mark Ruggiero |
|
Name: | Mark Ruggiero | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: | /s/ Steven J. Gomes |
|
Name: | Steven J. Gomes | |
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature page to Supplemental Indenture]
EXHIBIT A
[Note: The following legend is to be placed at the beginning of any Global Note
representing Notes.]
GLOBAL NOTE
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO IN THIS SECURITY AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE) OR ITS NOMINEE. 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 ITS NOMINEE OR A SUCCESSOR OF SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR 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.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED HEREIN) OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THIS SECURITY AND THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED HEREIN) EVIDENCED HEREBY (1) ARE NOT DEPOSITS WITH OR HELD BY THE COMPANY AND ARE NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL AGENCY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION AND (2) ARE SUBORDINATE IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE IDENTIFIED HEREIN).
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
7.25% FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2035
No. _ | CUSIP: | |
$ | ISIN: |
Independent Bank Corp., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of $[•] DOLLARS ($[•]) (or such other amount as set forth in the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in the Note (as defined below) attached hereto) on April 1, 2035 (such date, the “Maturity Date”), unless this note (this “Note”) is redeemed prior to such Maturity Date, and to pay interest thereon as set forth below:
From and including March 25, 2025, to, but excluding, April 1, 2030 (unless redeemed prior to such date pursuant to Section 3.02 of the Supplemental Indenture (as defined herein)) (the “Fixed Rate Period”), this Note will bear interest at a rate of 7.25% per year. During the Fixed Rate Period, interest on the Note will accrue from and including March 25, 2025, and will be payable semiannually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year (each such date, a “Fixed Period Interest Payment Date”), commencing on October 1, 2025. The interest payable on the Note on any Fixed Period Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Holder at the close of business on March 15 or September 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the Fixed Period Interest Payment Date. The last interest payment date for the fixed rate period will be April 1, 2030.
From and including April 1, 2030, to, but excluding, the Maturity Date (unless redeemed prior to such date pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 3.02 of the Supplemental Indenture) (the “Floating Rate Period”), this Note will bear interest at a floating rate per year equal to the Benchmark, plus 353 basis points. During the Floating Rate Period, interest on the Note will accrue from and including April 1, 2030 and will be payable quarterly in arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year (each such date, a “Floating Period Interest Payment Date” and, together with any Fixed Period Interest Payment Date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on July 1, 2030. The interest payable on the Note on any Floating Period Interest Payment Date will, except as noted in the immediately succeeding sentence, be paid to the Holder at the close of business on March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the Floating Period Interest Payment Date. However, interest that the Company pays on the Maturity Date will be paid to the Person to whom the principal will be payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Benchmark is less than zero, then the Benchmark shall be deemed to be zero.
Principal and interest on the Note will be payable by wire transfer in immediately available funds in U.S. dollars at an office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office of the Paying Agent located at One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note 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 or facsimile signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
(Signature page follows)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
Dated:
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP. | ||
By: |
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
By: |
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: |
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the Series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: |
|
|
Authorized Signatory |
REVERSE OF NOTE
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
7.25% FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2035
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company of a series designated as the “7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Due 2035” (the “Notes”) initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 on March 25, 2025. Such series of Securities has been established pursuant to, and is one of an unsecured indefinite number of series of subordinated debt securities of the Company issued or issuable under and pursuant to, the Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of March 25, 2025, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee), as supplemented and amended by the Supplemental Indenture, between the Company and the Trustee, dated as of March 25, 2025 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and the Base Indenture as supplemented and amended by the Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and any other 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 Trustee and the Persons in whose names Notes are registered on the Security Register from time to time and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on this Note. The terms, conditions and provisions of the Notes are those stated in the Indenture, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and those set forth in this Note. To the extent that the terms, conditions and provisions of this Note modify, supplement or are inconsistent with those of the Indenture, then the terms, conditions and other provisions of the Indenture shall govern to the extent such terms, conditions and other provisions of this Note are not inconsistent with the terms, conditions and provisions made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
All capitalized terms used in this Note and not defined herein that are defined in the Base Indenture or the Supplemental Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Base Indenture or the Supplemental Indenture. If any capitalized term used in this Note and defined herein is also defined in the Base Indenture or the Supplemental Indenture, in the event of any conflict in the meanings ascribed to such capitalized term, the definition of the capitalized term in this Note shall control. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
The indebtedness of the Company evidenced by the Notes, including the principal thereof and interest thereon, is, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Supplemental Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to obligations of the Company constituting the Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) on the terms and subject to the terms and conditions as provided and set forth in Section 2.06 of the Supplemental Indenture and shall rank pari passu in right of payment with all other Notes and with all other unsecured subordinated indebtedness of the Company issued under the Indenture and not by its terms subordinate and junior in right of payment to the promissory notes, bonds, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness of a type that includes the Notes. Each Holder by his acceptance of this Note, agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions of the Indenture and authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in the Indenture.
During the Fixed Rate Period, interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. During the Floating Rate Period, interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed. Dollar amounts resulting from those calculations will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.
If any Fixed Period Interest Payment Date for the Note or the date for the payment of principal for the Note occurring during the Fixed Rate Period falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Company will postpone the interest or principal payment to the next succeeding Business Day, but the payments made on such dates will be treated as being made on the date that the payment was first due and the Holder of the Note will not be entitled to any further interest, principal or other payments with respect to such postponements. If any Floating Period Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Company will postpone the interest payment or the payment of principal and interest at the Maturity Date to the next succeeding Business Day (and, with respect to the Maturity Date, no additional interest will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after the Maturity Date), unless, with respect to a Floating Period Interest Payment Date only, such day falls in the next calendar month, in which case the Floating Period Interest Payment Date will instead be the immediately preceding day that is a Business Day, and interest will accrue to, but excluding, such Floating Period Interest Payment Date as so adjusted.
The Notes are intended to be treated as Tier 2 capital (or its then equivalent if the Company were subject to such capital requirement) for purposes of capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve Board as then in effect and applicable to the Company. If an Event of Default with respect to Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes shall only become due and payable in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Article V of the Base Indenture and Section 2.07 of the Supplemental Indenture. Accordingly, the Holder of this Note has no right to accelerate the maturity of this Note in the event the Company fails to pay interest on any of the Notes or fails to perform any other obligations under the Notes or in the Indenture that are applicable to the Notes.
The Notes may be redeemed by the Company as set forth in the Indenture.
The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund. The Notes shall not be convertible into or exchangeable for any equity securities, other securities or other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary.
Article XII of the Base Indenture shall not be applicable to the Notes.
The Notes are issuable and may be transferred only in fully registered form without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or any amount in excess thereof that is an integral multiple of $1,000.
The Company and the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
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 interest (if any) on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
[NOTE: THE PROVISIONS BELOW THAT APPEAR IN BRACKETS WILL BE INSERTED INTO ANY GLOBAL NOTE REPRESENTING NOTES.] [This Security is a global note, represented by one or more permanent global certificates registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company (each a “Global Note” and collectively, the “Global Notes”). Accordingly, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing the Notes represented hereby, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by The Depository Trust Company (the “Depository”) to a nominee of such Depository or by a nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any nominee to a successor Depository or any nominee of such successor. Ownership of beneficial interests in this Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the applicable Depository or its nominee (with respect to interest of Persons that have accounts with the Depository (“Participants”) and the records of Participants (with respect to interests of Persons other than Participants)). Beneficial interests in Notes owned by Persons that hold through Participants will be evidenced only by, and transfers of such beneficial interests with such Participants will be effected only through, records maintained by such Participants. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in this Security will not be entitled to have any individual certificates and will not be considered the owners or Holders thereof under the Indenture.
Except in the limited circumstances set forth in Section 3.5 of the Base Indenture, Participants and owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive Securities in definitive form and will not be considered Holders of Notes. None of the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent will be liable for any delay by the Depository, its nominee or any direct or indirect participant in identifying the beneficial owners of the related Notes. The Company and the Paying Agent may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depository or its nominee for all purposes, including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Notes to be issued.
Except as provided in Section 3.5 of the Base Indenture, beneficial owners of Global Note swill not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Notes in definitive form and no Global Note will be exchangeable except for another Global Note of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of the Depository. Accordingly, each Person owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of the Depository and, if such Person is not a Participant, on the procedures of the Participant through which such Person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a Holder under the Notes.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that purchasers of securities take physical delivery of those securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer interests in the Notes represented by a Global Note to those Persons may be limited. In addition, because the Depository can act only on behalf of its Participants, who in turn act on behalf of Persons who hold interests through Participants, the ability of a Person having an interest in Notes represented by a Global Note to pledge or transfer such interest to Persons that do not participate in the Depository’s system, or otherwise to take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of such interest. None of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of Notes by the Depository, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depository relating to the Notes.]
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association will act as the Company’s Paying Agent with respect to the Notes through its offices presently located in One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Company may at any time rescind the designation of a Paying Agent, appoint a successor Paying Agent, or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Note or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused the CUSIP number for the Series of Securities of which the Notes are a part to be printed on the Notes as a convenience to the Holders of the Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE OR INSTRUMENTS ENTERED INTO AND, IN EACH CASE, PERFORMED IN SAID STATE.
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign the within Security, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer the within Security to:
(Insert assignee’s legal name)
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. no.)
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint as agent to transfer this Security on the books of Independent Bank Corp. The agent may substitute another to act for it.
Your Signature: |
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security) |
Your Name: |
Date: |
Signature Guarantee: * |
• | NOTICE: The Signature must be guaranteed by an Institution which is a member of one of the following recognized signature Guarantee Programs: (i) The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MNSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) such other guarantee program acceptable to the Trustee. |
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN NOTE
The initial principal amount of this Note is $[ ]. The following increases or decreases in the principal amount of this Note have been made:
Date | Amount |
Amount |
Principal |
Signature |
Exhibit 4.3
FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO IN THIS SECURITY AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE) OR ITS NOMINEE. 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 ITS NOMINEE OR A SUCCESSOR OF SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR 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.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED HEREIN) OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THIS SECURITY AND THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED HEREIN) EVIDENCED HEREBY (1) ARE NOT DEPOSITS WITH OR HELD BY THE COMPANY AND ARE NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL AGENCY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION AND (2) ARE SUBORDINATE IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE IDENTIFIED HEREIN).
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
7.25% FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2035
No. _ | CUSIP: | |||||||||
$ | ISIN: |
Independent Bank Corp., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of $[•] DOLLARS ($[•]) (or such other amount as set forth in the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in the Note (as defined below) attached hereto) on April 1, 2035 (such date, the “Maturity Date”), unless this note (this “Note”) is redeemed prior to such Maturity Date, and to pay interest thereon as set forth below:
From and including March 25, 2025, to, but excluding, April 1, 2030 (unless redeemed prior to such date pursuant to Section 3.02 of the Supplemental Indenture (as defined herein)) (the “Fixed Rate Period”), this Note will bear interest at a rate of 7.25% per year. During the Fixed Rate Period, interest on the Note will accrue from and including March 25, 2025, and will be payable semiannually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year (each such date, a “Fixed Period Interest Payment Date”), commencing on October 1, 2025. The interest payable on the Note on any Fixed Period Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Holder at the close of business on March 15 or September 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the Fixed Period Interest Payment Date. The last interest payment date for the fixed rate period will be April 1, 2030.
From and including April 1, 2030, to, but excluding, the Maturity Date (unless redeemed prior to such date pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 3.02 of the Supplemental Indenture) (the “Floating Rate Period”), this Note will bear interest at a floating rate per year equal to the Benchmark, plus 353 basis points. During the Floating Rate Period, interest on the Note will accrue from and including April 1, 2030 and will be payable quarterly in arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year (each such date, a “Floating Period Interest Payment Date” and, together with any Fixed Period Interest Payment Date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on July 1, 2030. The interest payable on the Note on any Floating Period Interest Payment Date will, except as noted in the immediately succeeding sentence, be paid to the Holder at the close of business on March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the Floating Period Interest Payment Date. However, interest that the Company pays on the Maturity Date will be paid to the Person to whom the principal will be payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Benchmark is less than zero, then the Benchmark shall be deemed to be zero.
Principal and interest on the Note will be payable by wire transfer in immediately available funds in U.S. dollars at an office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office of the Paying Agent located at One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note 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 or facsimile signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
(Signature page follows)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
Dated:
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP. | ||
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TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the Series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
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Authorized Signatory |
REVERSE OF NOTE
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
7.25% FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2035
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company of a series designated as the “7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Due 2035” (the “Notes”) initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 on March 25, 2025. Such series of Securities has been established pursuant to, and is one of an unsecured indefinite number of series of subordinated debt securities of the Company issued or issuable under and pursuant to, the Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of March 25, 2025, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee), as supplemented and amended by the Supplemental Indenture, between the Company and the Trustee, dated as of March 25, 2025 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and the Base Indenture as supplemented and amended by the Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and any other 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 Trustee and the Persons in whose names Notes are registered on the Security Register from time to time and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on this Note. The terms, conditions and provisions of the Notes are those stated in the Indenture, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and those set forth in this Note. To the extent that the terms, conditions and provisions of this Note modify, supplement or are inconsistent with those of the Indenture, then the terms, conditions and other provisions of the Indenture shall govern to the extent such terms, conditions and other provisions of this Note are not inconsistent with the terms, conditions and provisions made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
All capitalized terms used in this Note and not defined herein that are defined in the Base Indenture or the Supplemental Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Base Indenture or the Supplemental Indenture. If any capitalized term used in this Note and defined herein is also defined in the Base Indenture or the Supplemental Indenture, in the event of any conflict in the meanings ascribed to such capitalized term, the definition of the capitalized term in this Note shall control. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
The indebtedness of the Company evidenced by the Notes, including the principal thereof and interest thereon, is, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Supplemental Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to obligations of the Company constituting the Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) on the terms and subject to the terms and conditions as provided and set forth in Section 2.06 of the Supplemental Indenture and shall rank pari passu in right of payment with all other Notes and with all other unsecured subordinated indebtedness of the Company issued under the Indenture and not by its terms subordinate and junior in right of payment to the promissory notes, bonds, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness of a type that includes the Notes. Each Holder by his acceptance of this Note, agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions of the Indenture and authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in the Indenture.
During the Fixed Rate Period, interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. During the Floating Rate Period, interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed. Dollar amounts resulting from those calculations will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.
If any Fixed Period Interest Payment Date for the Note or the date for the payment of principal for the Note occurring during the Fixed Rate Period falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Company will postpone the interest or principal payment to the next succeeding Business Day, but the payments made on such dates will be treated as being made on the date that the payment was first due and the Holder of the Note will not be entitled to any further interest, principal or other payments with respect to such postponements. If any Floating Period Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Company will postpone the interest payment or the payment of principal and interest at the Maturity Date to the next succeeding Business Day (and, with respect to the Maturity Date, no additional interest will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after the Maturity Date), unless, with respect to a Floating Period Interest Payment Date only, such day falls in the next calendar month, in which case the Floating Period Interest Payment Date will instead be the immediately preceding day that is a Business Day, and interest will accrue to, but excluding, such Floating Period Interest Payment Date as so adjusted.
The Notes are intended to be treated as Tier 2 capital (or its then equivalent if the Company were subject to such capital requirement) for purposes of capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve Board as then in effect and applicable to the Company. If an Event of Default with respect to Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes shall only become due and payable in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Article V of the Base Indenture and Section 2.07 of the Supplemental Indenture. Accordingly, the Holder of this Note has no right to accelerate the maturity of this Note in the event the Company fails to pay interest on any of the Notes or fails to perform any other obligations under the Notes or in the Indenture that are applicable to the Notes.
The Notes may be redeemed by the Company as set forth in the Indenture.
The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund. The Notes shall not be convertible into or exchangeable for any equity securities, other securities or other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary.
Article XII of the Base Indenture shall not be applicable to the Notes.
The Notes are issuable and may be transferred only in fully registered form without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or any amount in excess thereof that is an integral multiple of $1,000.
The Company and the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
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 interest (if any) on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
[NOTE: THE PROVISIONS BELOW THAT APPEAR IN BRACKETS WILL BE INSERTED INTO ANY GLOBAL NOTE REPRESENTING NOTES.] [This Security is a global note, represented by one or more permanent global certificates registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company (each a “Global Note” and collectively, the “Global Notes”). Accordingly, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing the Notes represented hereby, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by The Depository Trust Company (the “Depository”) to a nominee of such Depository or by a nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any nominee to a successor Depository or any nominee of such successor. Ownership of beneficial interests in this Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the applicable Depository or its nominee (with respect to interest of Persons that have accounts with the Depository (“Participants”) and the records of Participants (with respect to interests of Persons other than Participants)). Beneficial interests in Notes owned by Persons that hold through Participants will be evidenced only by, and transfers of such beneficial interests with such Participants will be effected only through, records maintained by such Participants. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in this Security will not be entitled to have any individual certificates and will not be considered the owners or Holders thereof under the Indenture.
Except in the limited circumstances set forth in Section 3.5 of the Base Indenture, Participants and owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive Securities in definitive form and will not be considered Holders of Notes. None of the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent will be liable for any delay by the Depository, its nominee or any direct or indirect participant in identifying the beneficial owners of the related Notes. The Company and the Paying Agent may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depository or its nominee for all purposes, including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Notes to be issued.
Except as provided in Section 3.5 of the Base Indenture, beneficial owners of Global Note swill not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Notes in definitive form and no Global Note will be exchangeable except for another Global Note of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of the Depository. Accordingly, each Person owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of the Depository and, if such Person is not a Participant, on the procedures of the Participant through which such Person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a Holder under the Notes.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that purchasers of securities take physical delivery of those securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer interests in the Notes represented by a Global Note to those Persons may be limited. In addition, because the Depository can act only on behalf of its Participants, who in turn act on behalf of Persons who hold interests through Participants, the ability of a Person having an interest in Notes represented by a Global Note to pledge or transfer such interest to Persons that do not participate in the Depository’s system, or otherwise to take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of such interest. None of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of Notes by the Depository, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depository relating to the Notes.]
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association will act as the Company’s Paying Agent with respect to the Notes through its offices presently located in One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Company may at any time rescind the designation of a Paying Agent, appoint a successor Paying Agent, or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Note or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused the CUSIP number for the Series of Securities of which the Notes are a part to be printed on the Notes as a convenience to the Holders of the Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE OR INSTRUMENTS ENTERED INTO AND, IN EACH CASE, PERFORMED IN SAID STATE.
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign the within Security, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer the within Security to:
(Insert assignee’s legal name)
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. no.)
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint as agent to transfer this Security on the books of Independent Bank Corp. The agent may substitute another to act for it.
Your Signature: |
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security) |
Your Name: |
Date: |
Signature Guarantee: * |
NOTICE: | The Signature must be guaranteed by an Institution which is a member of one of the following recognized signature Guarantee Programs: (i) The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MNSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) such other guarantee program acceptable to the Trustee. |
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN NOTE
The initial principal amount of this Note is $[ ]. The following increases or decreases in the principal amount of this Note have been made:
Date | Amount |
Amount |
Principal |
Signature |
Exhibit 5.1
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP |
425 LEXINGTON AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10017-3954 |
TELEPHONE: +1-212-455-2000 FACSIMILE: +1-212-455-2502 |
March 25, 2025
Independent Bank Corp.
2036 Washington Street
Hanover, Massachusetts 02339
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Independent Bank Corp., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance by the Company of $300,000,000 principal amount of 7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”).
We have examined the Registration Statement, the Underwriting Agreement, dated March 20, 2025 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company, Rockland Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company, and the underwriters named therein pursuant to which such underwriters have agreed to purchase the Notes issued by the Company, the Base Indenture, dated as of March 25, 2025 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 25, 2025 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and have made such other investigations, as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinion hereinafter set forth.
BEIJING BOSTON BRUSSELS HONG KONG HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES PALO ALTO SÃO PAULO TOKYO WASHINGTON, D.C.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. Piper Sandler & Co. |
-2- | March 25, 2025 |
In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.
In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed further that the execution, issuance, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes, as applicable, do not constitute a breach or default under any agreement or instrument which is binding upon the Company.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that, assuming due authentication thereof by the Trustee and upon payment and delivery in accordance with the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Our opinion set forth above is subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In addition, we express no opinion as to the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of Section 1.11 of the Base Indenture relating to the separability of provisions of the Base Indenture.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. Piper Sandler & Co. |
-3- | March 25, 2025 |
In connection with Section 1.13 of the Base Indenture whereby the parties submit to the jurisdiction of any United States court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, United States of America, we note the limitations of 28 U.S.C. Sections 1331 and 1332 on subject matter jurisdiction of the U.S. federal courts. In connection with the provisions of Section 1.13 of the Base Indenture, which relate to forum selection (including, without limitation, any waiver of any objection to venue or any objection that a court is an inconvenient forum), we note that under N.Y.C.P.L.R. Section 510 a New York State court may have discretion to transfer the place of trial, and under 28 U.S.C. Section 1404(a) a United States District Court has discretion to transfer an action from one U.S. federal court to another.
We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York and the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company in respect of the offering of the Notes and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours, |
/s/ Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP |
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP |