UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Date of
Report (Date of earliest event reported) January
23, 2009 (January 20, 2009)
Maiden
Holdings, Ltd.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Bermuda
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001-34042
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N/A
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(State
or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation)
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(Commission
File
Number)
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(IRS
Employer
Identification
No.)
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48
Par-la-Ville Road, Suite 1141, Hamilton
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HM
11
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(Address
of principal executive offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (441) 292-7090
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation to the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
□
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Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)
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□
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Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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□
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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□
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Section
1 – Registrant’s Business and Operations
Item
1.01:
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Entry
into a Material Definitive
Agreement
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The
information in Item 2.03 is hereby incorporated by reference.
Section
2 – Financial Information
Item
2.03:
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Creation
of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangement of the Registrant
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On
January 20, 2009, Maiden Holdings, Ltd. (the “Company”) completed a private
placement of 260,000 units (the “Units”), each Unit consisting of $1,000
principal amount of capital securities (the “Trust Preferred Securities”) of
Maiden Capital Financing Trust (the “Trust”) (an indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company) and 45 common shares, $.01 par value, of the Company
(the “Common Shares”), for a purchase price of $1,000.45 per
Unit. This resulted in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately
$260,117,000, before approximately $4,100,000 of placement agent fees and
expenses. 11,700,000 Common Shares in the aggregate were issued by
the Company. Certain trusts established by Michael Karfunkel and
George Karfunkel, two of the Company’s founding shareholders, purchased an
aggregate of 159,000 of the Units. The remaining 101,000 Units were
purchased by existing institutional investors. The terms of the Trust
Preferred Securities are governed by an Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust, dated January 20, 2009, by and among Wilmington Trust Company
(“Wilmington”), as Institutional Trustee; Wilmington, as Delaware Trustee;
Maiden NA, as Sponsor; and the Trust Administrators (as named
therein).
The Trust
used the proceeds from the sale of the Trust Preferred Securities to purchase a
subordinated debenture (the “Debenture”) in the principal amount of $260,000,000
issued by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Maiden Holdings North America,
Ltd. (“Maiden NA”). The net proceeds to Maiden NA from the sale of the Debenture
to the Trust will be used to support its North American business, principally
the operations it recently acquired from GMAC RE in November 2008.
The
Debenture was issued pursuant to an Indenture dated January 20, 2009 by and
between the Maiden NA and Wilmington. The terms of the Debenture are
substantially the same as the terms of the Trust Preferred
Securities. The interest payments by Maiden NA will be used by the
Trust to pay the quarterly distributions to the holders of the Trust Preferred
Securities. The Indenture permits Maiden NA to redeem the Debenture
(and thus a like amount of the Trust Preferred Securities) at stated value plus
one year’s interest together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, through
the date of redemption at any time until January 15, 2014. On and
after January 15, 2014, Maiden NA may redeem any or all of the Debenture (and
thus a like amount of the Trust Preferred Securities) at stated value plus
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, through the date of
redemption. If the Company redeems any amount of its Debenture, the
Trust must redeem a like amount of the Trust Preferred
Securities. The Indenture permits Maiden NA, as long as no event of
default has occurred and continues, to defer interest payments on the Debenture
for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods, during which interest accrues and
compounds until paid.
Pursuant
to separate Guarantee Agreements dated as of January 20, 2009 (each a “Guarantee
Agreement”) with Wilmington, as guarantee trustee, each of the Company and
Maiden NA has agreed to guarantee the payment of distributions and payments on
liquidation or redemption of the Trust Preferred Securities. The
obligations of the Company and Maiden NA under their Guarantee Agreements and
the Trust Preferred Securities are subordinate to all of their respective senior
debt.
In
connection with the offering, the Company entered into a Purchase Agreement (the
“Purchase Agreement”) with the purchasers of Units pursuant to which it agreed
to file a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
with respect to resales of the Common Shares on or before April 15, 2009 and to
use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to
become effective as soon as practicable thereafter.
The
placement agent, Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., received a fee of
3.5% of the principal amount of the Debenture placed with investors except for
the founding shareholders.
The
description above is qualified in its entirety by the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust, the Indenture, each of the Guarantee Agreements and the
Purchase Agreement filed herewith as exhibits and to which reference is
made.
Section
3 – Securities and Trading Markets
Item
3.02:
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Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities
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The
information in Item 2.03 is hereby incorporated by reference.
The
issuance and sale of the Trust Preferred Securities and the Common Shares in the
offering was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in
reliance on the exemption from federal registration under Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act and/or Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, based on the Company’s
belief that the offer and sale of said securities did not involve any public
offering as each investor was “accredited” and no general solicitation has been
involved in the offering.
Section
7 – Regulation FD
Item
7.01:
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Regulation
FD Disclosure
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On
January 20, 2009, the Company announced the closing of the offering reported in
Item 2.03. A copy of the press release, as well as certain
information made available to purchasers in the offering, is furnished as
Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, respectively, to this report.
Section
9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item
9.01:
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Financial
Statements and Exhibits
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(c) Exhibits
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4.1
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Amended
and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of January 20, 2009, by and
among Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee and as Delaware
Trustee, Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd., as Sponsor, and the
Administrators (as named therein).
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4.2
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Indenture,
dated January 20, 2009, between Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. and
Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Fixed Rate Subordinated
Deferable Interest Debentures Due 2039 (including the form of
debenture).
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4.3
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Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2009, by and between Maiden Holdings,
Ltd., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as
Trustee.
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4.4
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Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2009, by and between Maiden Holdings
North America, Ltd., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as
Trustee.
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10.1
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Form
of Purchase Agreement entered into between Maiden Holdings, Ltd., Maiden
Capital Financing Trust, Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. and various
institutional investors dated as of January 14,
2009.
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99.1
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Press
release dated January 20, 2009.
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99.2
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Presentation
to purchasers in the offering.
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Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
January
23, 2009
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MAIDEN HOLDINGS,
LTD.
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By:
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/s/ Michael
Tait |
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Name:
Michael Tait |
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Title:
Chief
Financial Officer |
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DECLARATION
OF TRUST
by
and among
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY,
as
Institutional Trustee,
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY,
as
Delaware Trustee,
MAIDEN
HOLDINGS NORTH AMERICA, LTD.,
as
Sponsor,
and
ARTURO
M. RASCHBAUM, JOHN M. MARSHALECK and KAREN L. SCHMITT,
as
Administrators,
Dated
as of January 20, 2009
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Page
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ARTICLE
I.
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INTERPRETATION
AND DEFINITIONS
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1
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Section
1.1.
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Definitions
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1
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ARTICLE
II.
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ORGANIZATION
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9
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Section
2.1.
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Name
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9
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Section
2.2.
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Office
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9
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Section
2.3.
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Purpose
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9
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Section
2.4.
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Authority
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10
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Section
2.5.
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Title
to Property of the Trust
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10
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Section
2.6.
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Powers
and Duties of the Trustees and the Administrators
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10
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Section
2.7.
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Prohibition
of Actions by the Trust and the Institutional Trustee
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14
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Section
2.8.
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Powers
and Duties of the Institutional Trustee
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15
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Section
2.9.
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Certain
Duties and Responsibilities of the Institutional Trustee and
Administrators
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16
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Section
2.10.
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Certain
Rights of Institutional Trustee
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18
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Section
2.11.
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Delaware
Trustee
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20
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Section
2.12.
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Execution
of Documents
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20
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Section
2.13.
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Not
Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities
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21
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Section
2.14.
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Duration
of Trust
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21
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Section
2.15.
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Mergers
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21
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ARTICLE
III.
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SPONSOR
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22
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Section
3.1.
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Sponsor’s
Purchase of Common Securities
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22
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Section
3.2.
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Responsibilities
of the Sponsor
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23
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Section
3.3.
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Reports
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23
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Section
3.4.
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Expenses
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23
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Section
3.5.
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Right
to Proceed
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24
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ARTICLE
IV.
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INSTITUTIONAL
TRUSTEE AND ADMINISTRATORS
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24
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Section
4.1.
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Number
of Trustees
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24
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Section
4.2.
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Delaware
Trustee
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24
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Section
4.3.
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Institutional
Trustee; Eligibility
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24
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Section
4.4.
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Certain
Qualifications of the Delaware Trustee Generally
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25
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Section
4.5.
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Administrators
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25
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Section
4.6.
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Initial
Delaware Trustee
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25
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Section
4.7.
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Appointment,
Removal and Resignation of Trustees and Administrators
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25
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Section
4.8.
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Vacancies
Among Trustees
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27
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Section
4.9.
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Effect
of Vacancies
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27
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Section
4.10.
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Meetings
of the Trustees and the Administrators
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28
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Section
4.11.
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Delegation
of Power
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28
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Section
4.12.
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Conversion,
Consolidation or Succession to Business
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28
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ARTICLE
V.
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DISTRIBUTIONS
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29
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Section
5.1.
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Distributions
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29
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ARTICLE
VI.
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ISSUANCE
OF SECURITIES
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29
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Section
6.1.
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General
Provisions Regarding Securities
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29
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Section
6.2.
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Paying
Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar
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30
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Section
6.3.
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Form
and Dating
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30
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Section
6.4.
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Book-Entry
Capital Securities
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31
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Section
6.5.
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Registration
of Transfer and Exchange of Capital Securities
Certificates
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33
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Section
6.6.
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Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates
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34
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Section
6.7.
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Temporary
Securities
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34
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Section
6.8.
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Cancellation
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35
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Section
6.9.
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CUSIP
Numbers
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35
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Section
6.10.
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Rights
of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults
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35
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ARTICLE
VII.
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DISSOLUTION
AND TERMINATION OF TRUST
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37
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Section
7.1.
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Dissolution
and Termination of Trust
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37
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ARTICLE
VIII.
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TRANSFER
OF INTERESTS
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38
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Section
8.1.
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General
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38
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Section
8.2.
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Transfer
Procedures and Restrictions
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39
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Section
8.3.
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Deemed
Security Holders
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42
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ARTICLE
IX.
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LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE OR
OTHERS
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42
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Section
9.1.
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Liability
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42
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Section
9.2.
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Exculpation
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43
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Section
9.3.
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Fiduciary
Duty
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43
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Section
9.4.
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Indemnification
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44
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Section
9.5.
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Outside
Businesses
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46
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Section
9.6.
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Compensation;
Fee
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46
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ARTICLE
X.
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TAX
AND ACCOUNTING
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47
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Section
10.1.
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Fiscal
Year
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47
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Section
10.2.
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Certain
Accounting Matters.
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47
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Section
10.3.
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Banking
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47
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Section
10.4.
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Withholding
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48
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Section
10.5.
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Intention
of the Parties
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48
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ARTICLE
XI.
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AMENDMENTS
AND MEETINGS
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48
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Section
11.1.
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Amendments
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48
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Section
11.2.
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Meetings
of the Holders of the Securities; Action by Written
Consent
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50
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ARTICLE
XII.
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REPRESENTATIONS
OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE
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51
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Section
12.1.
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Representations
and Warranties of Institutional Trustee
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51
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Section
12.2.
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Representations
of the Delaware Trustee
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52
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ARTICLE
XIII.
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MISCELLANEOUS
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52
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Section
13.1.
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Notices
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52
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Section
13.2.
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Governing
Law
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54
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Section
13.3.
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Intention
of the Parties
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54
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Section
13.4.
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Headings
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54
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Section
13.5.
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Successors
and Assigns
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54
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Section
13.6.
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Partial
Enforceability
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54
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Section
13.7.
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Information
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54
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Section
13.8.
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Counterparts
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55
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Annex
I
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Terms
of Securities
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Exhibit
A-1
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Form
of Capital Security Certificate
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Exhibit
A-2
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Form
of Common Security Certificate
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Exhibit
B-1
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Form
of Transferor Certificate to be Executed by QIBs
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Exhibit
B-2
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Form
of Transferor Certificate to be Executed by Transferees Other than
QIBs
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Exhibit
C
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Specimen
of Initial Debenture
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Exhibit
D
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Purchase
Agreement
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AMENDED
AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
MAIDEN
CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST
January
20, 2009
AMENDED
AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST (“Declaration”) dated
and effective as of January 20, 2009, by the Trustees (as defined herein), the
Administrators (as defined herein), the Sponsor (as defined herein) and the
holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the Trust (as
defined herein) to be issued pursuant to this Declaration;
WHEREAS,
the Trustees, the Administrators and the Sponsor established
Maiden Capital Financing Trust (the “Trust”), a statutory
trust under the Statutory Trust Act (as defined herein) pursuant to this
Declaration of Trust dated as of January 13, 2009 (the “Original
Declaration”), and a Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of the
State of Delaware on January 13, 2009 (the “Certificate of
Trust”), for the sole purpose of issuing and selling the Securities (as
defined herein) representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust, investing the proceeds thereof in the Debentures (as defined herein) of
the Debenture Issuer (as defined herein) and engaging in those activities
necessary, advisable or incidental thereto;
WHEREAS,
as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust have been issued;
and
WHEREAS,
the Trustees, the Administrators and the Sponsor, by this Declaration, amend and
restate each and every term and provision of the Original
Declaration;
NOW,
THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue the Trust as
a statutory trust under the Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration
constitutes the governing instrument of such statutory trust, the Trustees
declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust for the
benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the Securities, subject to the
provisions of this Declaration, and, in consideration of the mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, amend
and restate in its entirety the Original Declaration and agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I.
INTERPRETATION
AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1.
Definitions. Unless
the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized
terms used in this Declaration but not defined in the preamble above have the
respective meanings assigned to them in this Section
1.1;
(b) a
term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning
throughout;
(c) all
references to “the Declaration” or “this Declaration” are to this Declaration
and each Annex and Exhibit hereto, as modified, supplemented or amended from
time to time;
(d) all
references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and Annexes and Exhibits
are to Articles and Sections of and Annexes and Exhibits to this Declaration
unless otherwise specified; and
(e) a
reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
“Additional Interest”
has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“Additional Sums” has
the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“Administrative
Action” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of
Annex I.
“Administrators” means
each of Arturo M. Raschbaum, John M. Marshaleck and Karen L. Schmitt, solely in
such Person’s capacity as Administrator of the Trust created and continued
hereunder and not in such Person’s individual capacity, or such Administrator’s
successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor appointed as herein
provided.
“Affiliate” has the
same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any
successor rule thereunder.
“Applicable Depositary
Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving
a Book-Entry Capital Security, the rules and procedures of the Depository for
such Book-Entry Capital Security, in each case to the extent applicable to such
transaction and as in effect from time to time.
“Authorized Officer”
of a Person means any Person that is authorized to bind such
Person.
“Bankruptcy Event”
means, with respect to any Person:
(a) a
court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for
relief in respect of such Person in an involuntary case under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or
appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator
(or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its
property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such
decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of
90 consecutive days; or
(b) such
Person shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the
entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall
consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of such
Person of any substantial part of its property, or shall make any general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its
debts as they become due.
“Book-Entry Capital
Security” means a Capital Security, the ownership and transfers of which
shall be made through book entries by a Depositary.
“Business Day” means
any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking
institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required
by any applicable law to close.
“Capital Securities”
has the meaning set forth in paragraph 1(a) of Annex I.
“Capital Security
Certificate” means a definitive Certificate in fully registered form
representing a Capital Security substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-1.
“Certificate” means
any certificate evidencing Securities.
“Closing Date” has the
meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
“Code” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor
legislation.
“Common Securities”
has the meaning set forth in paragraph 1(b) of Annex I.
“Common Security
Certificate” means a definitive Certificate in fully registered form
representing a Common Security substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-2.
“Company Indemnified
Person” means (a) any Administrator; (b) any Affiliate of any
Administrator; (c) any officers, directors, shareholders, members,
partners, employees, representatives or agents of any Administrator; or
(d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its
Affiliates.
“Corporate Trust
Office” means the office of the Institutional Trustee at which the
corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee shall, at any particular
time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this
Declaration is located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19890-1600, Attn: Corporate Trust Administration.
“Covered Person”
means: (a) any Administrator, officer, director, shareholder,
partner, member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or
(ii) any of the Trust’s Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of
Securities.
“Creditor” has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.3.
“Debenture Issuer”
means Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd., a Delaware corporation, in its
capacity as issuer of the Debentures under the Indenture.
“Debenture Trustee”
means Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee under the Indenture until a successor
is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such successor
trustee.
“Debentures” means the
Fixed Rate Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due January 15, 2039 to
be issued by the Debenture Issuer under the Indenture.
“Defaulted Interest”
has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“Definitive Capital
Securities Certificates” means Capital Securities issued in certificated,
fully registered form that are not Global Capital Securities.
“Delaware Trustee” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
“Depositary” means an
organization registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act that is
designated as Depositary by the Sponsor or any successor thereto. DTC
will be the initial Depositary.
“Depositary
Participant” means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or
other Person for whom from time to time the Depositary effects book-entry
transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Depositary.
“Direct Action” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(d).
“Distribution” means a
distribution payable to Holders of Securities in accordance with Section
5.1.
“Distribution Payment
Date” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b)
of Annex I.
“Distribution Period”
means (i) with respect to the first Distribution Payment Date, the period
beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but
excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in April 2009 and (ii) thereafter, with
respect to each Distribution Payment Date, the period beginning on (and
including) the preceding Distribution Payment Date and ending on (but excluding)
such current Distribution Payment Date.
“Distribution Rate”
has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of Annex I.
“DTC” means The
Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto.
“Event of Default”
means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such event and
whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law
or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or
regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(a) the
occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default; or
(b) default
by the Trust in the payment of any Optional Redemption Price of any Security
when it becomes due and payable; or
(c) default
in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or
warranty of the Institutional Trustee in this Declaration (other than those
specified in clause (a) or (b) above) and continuation of such default or
breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or
certified mail to the Institutional Trustee and to the Sponsor by the Holders of
at least 25% in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital
Securities, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it
to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;
or
(d) the
occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Institutional Trustee if a
successor Institutional Trustee has not been appointed within 90 days
thereof.
“Exchange Act” means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any successor statute thereto, in each
case as amended from time to time.
“Extension Period” has
the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b)
of Annex I.
“Fiduciary Indemnified
Person” shall mean each of the Institutional Trustee (including in its
individual capacity), the Delaware Trustee (including in its individual
capacity), any Affiliate of the Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee and
any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees,
representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the Institutional Trustee or
Delaware Trustee.
“Fiscal Year” has the
meaning set forth in Section
10.1.
“Global Capital
Security” means a Capital Securities Certificate evidencing ownership of
Book-Entry Capital Securities.
“Guarantee” means the
guarantee agreement, dated as of January 20, 2009, of the Sponsor in respect of
the Capital Securities.
“Holder” means a
Person in whose name a Certificate representing a Security is registered, such
Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Statutory Trust
Act.
“Indemnified Person”
means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary Indemnified
Person.
“Indenture” means the
Indenture dated as of January 20, 2009, between the Debenture Issuer and the
Debenture Trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the
Debentures are to be issued, as such Indenture and any supplemental indenture
may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“Indenture Event of
Default” means an “Event of Default” as defined in the
Indenture.
“Institutional
Trustee” means the Trustee meeting the eligibility requirements set forth
in Section
4.3
“Interest” means any
interest due on the Debentures including any Additional Interest and Defaulted
Interest.
“Investment Company”
means an investment company as defined in the Investment Company
Act.
“Investment Company
Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to
time, or any successor legislation.
“Investment Company
Event” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of
Annex I.
“Liquidation” has the
meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I.
“Liquidation
Distribution” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of
Annex I.
“Majority in liquidation
amount of the Securities” means Holder(s) of outstanding Securities
voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of
outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities
voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of more than 50% of the
aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on
redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to
the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding
Securities of the relevant class.
“Maturity Date” has
the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of Annex I.
“Officers’
Certificates” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by
two Authorized Officers of such Person, and, with respect to the Administrators,
a certificate signed by at least two Administrators. Any Officers’
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
providing for it in this Declaration shall include:
(a) a
statement that each individual signing the Officers’ Certificate has read the
covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a
brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation
undertaken by each individual in rendering the Officers’
Certificate;
(c) a
statement that each such individual signing the Officers’ Certificate has made
such examination or investigation as, in such individual’s opinion, 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
(d) a
statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or
covenant has been complied with.
“Optional Redemption
Date” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of
Annex I.
“Optional Redemption
Price” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a)
of Annex I.
“Owner” means each
Person who is the beneficial owner of Book-Entry Capital Securities as reflected
in the records of the Depositary or, if a Depositary Participant is not the
beneficial owner, then the beneficial owner as reflected in the records of the
Depositary Participant.
“Parent” means Maiden
Holdings, Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda.
“Parent Guarantee”
means the guarantee agreement, dated as of January 20, 2009, of the Parent of
the obligations of the Sponsor in respect of the Capital Securities and the
Debentures.
“Paying Agent” has the
meaning set forth in Section
6.2.
“Person” means a legal
person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint
venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust,
unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
“Property Account” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(c).
“Pro Rata” has the
meaning set forth in paragraph 8 of Annex I.
“Purchase Agreement”
means the Purchase Agreement relating to the offering and sale of Capital
Securities in the form of Exhibit D.
“QIB” means a
“qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities
Act.
“Quorum” means a
majority of the Administrators or, if there are only two Administrators, both of
them.
“Redemption/Distribution
Notice” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(e) of
Annex I.
“Registrar” has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
“Relevant Trustee” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(a).
“Responsible Officer”
means, with respect to the Institutional Trustee, any officer within the
Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee, including any
vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any assistant secretary, any
secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other
officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter,
any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Restricted Securities
Legend” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(b).
“Rule 3a-5” means
Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act.
“Rule 3a-7” means
Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act.
“Securities” means the
Common Securities and the Capital Securities.
“Securities Act” means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor
legislation.
“Special Event” has
the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
“Special Redemption
Date” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of
Annex I.
“Special Redemption
Price” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of
Annex I.
“Sponsor” means Maiden
Holdings North America, Ltd., a Delaware corporation, or any successor entity in
a merger, consolidation or amalgamation, in its capacity as sponsor of the
Trust.
“Statutory Trust Act”
means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. §§ 3801, et seq. as may be amended
from time to time.
“Subsidiary” means
with respect to any Person, (a) any corporation at least a majority of the
outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such
Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more
of its Subsidiaries, (b) any general partnership, joint venture or similar
entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests
of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, and
(c) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries
is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition, “voting
stock” means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the
equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power
for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such
Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having
such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
“Successor Entity” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b).
“Successor Delaware
Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(e).
“Successor Institutional
Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(a).
“Successor Securities”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b).
“Super Majority” has
the meaning set forth in paragraph 5(b) of Annex I.
“Tax Event” has the
meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
“10% in liquidation amount of
the Securities” means Holder(s) of outstanding Securities voting together
as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital
Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a
class, who are the record owners of 10% or more of the aggregate liquidation
amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption,
liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon
which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of
the relevant class.
“Transfer Agent” has
the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
“Treasury Regulations”
means the income tax regulations, including temporary and proposed regulations,
promulgated under the Code by the United States Treasury, as such regulations
may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of
succeeding regulations).
"Trust Preferred
Securities" means any preferred securities issued by an entity affiliated
with the Sponsor that is, directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such
term is defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or other
financing vehicle of the Sponsor or any Subsidiary of the Sponsor.
“Trust Property” means
(a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the
Property Account, and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the
foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to
be held by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this
Declaration.
“Trustee or “Trustees”
means each Person who has signed this Declaration as a trustee, so long as such
Person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all
other Persons who may from time to time be duly appointed, qualified and serving
as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and references herein to a
Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons solely in their
capacity as trustees hereunder.
“U.S. Person” means a
United States Person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
ARTICLE
II.
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1. Name. The
Trust is named “Maiden Capital Financing Trust,” as such name may be modified
from time to time by the Administrators following written notice to the
Institutional Trustee and the Holders of the Securities. The Trust’s
activities may be conducted under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed
advisable by the Administrators.
Section 2.2. Office. The
address of the principal office of the Trust is c/o Wilmington Trust Company,
1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600. On at
least 10 Business Days written notice to the Institutional Trustee and the
Holders of the Securities, the Administrators may designate another principal
office, which shall be in a state of the United States or in the District of
Columbia.
Section 2.3. Purpose. The
exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and sell the
Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust, (b) to invest the gross proceeds from such sale to acquire the
Debentures, (c) to facilitate direct investment in the assets of the Trust
through issuance of the Common Securities and the Capital Securities, and
(d) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those other
activities necessary, advisable or incidental thereto. The Trust
shall not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from
investments, pledge any of its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be
undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for
United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust.
Section 2.4. Authority. Except
as specifically provided in this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall
have exclusive and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the
Trust. An action taken by a Trustee in accordance with its powers
shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing
with the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust, no Person shall be required to
inquire into the authority of the Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons
dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on the power and
authority of the Trustees as set forth in this Declaration. The
Administrators shall have only those ministerial duties set forth herein with
respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust and are not intended to be
trustees or fiduciaries with respect to the Trust or the Holders. The
Institutional Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be obligated except as
provided in Section
2.6, to perform those duties assigned to the Administrators.
Section 2.5. Title to
Property of the Trust. Except as provided in Section
2.8 with respect to the Debentures and the Property Account or as
otherwise provided in this Declaration, legal title to all assets of the Trust
shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders shall not have legal title
to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided beneficial
interest in the assets of the Trust.
Section 2.6. Powers
and Duties of the Trustees and the Administrators.
(a) The
Trustees and the Administrators shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in
accordance with the terms of this Declaration. Subject to the
limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section, and in accordance
with the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Trustees and the
Administrators shall have the authority to enter into all transactions and
agreements determined by the Institutional Trustee to be appropriate in
exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees
or the Administrators, as the case may be, under this Declaration, and to
perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without limitation, the
following:
(i) Each
Administrator shall have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the
Trust with respect to the following matters:
(A) the
issuance and sale of the Securities;
(B) to
cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of
the Trust, such agreements as may be necessary, advisable or incidental thereto
in connection with the purposes and function of the Trust, including agreements
with the Paying Agent;
(C) ensuring
compliance with the Securities Act and applicable securities or blue sky laws of
states and other jurisdictions;
(D) the
sending of notices (other than notices of default), and other information
regarding the Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in accordance with
this Declaration including notice of any notice received from the Debenture
Issuer of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by
extending the interest payment period under the Indenture;
(E) the
consent to the appointment of a Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar in
accordance with this Declaration, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed;
(F) execution
and delivery of the Securities in accordance with this Declaration;
(G) execution
and delivery of closing certificates pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the
application for a taxpayer identification number;
(H) unless
otherwise determined by the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Securities or as otherwise required by the Statutory Trust Act, to execute on
behalf of the Trust (either acting alone or together with any or all of the
Administrators) any documents that the Administrators have the power to execute
pursuant to this Declaration;
(I) the
taking of any action as the Sponsor or an Administrator may from time to time
determine is necessary, advisable or incidental to the foregoing to give effect
to the terms of this Declaration for the benefit of the Holders (without
consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular
Holder);
(J) to
establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that
require a record date be established, including Distributions, voting rights,
redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant notices to the Holders of
Capital Securities and Holders of Common Securities as to such actions and
applicable record dates;
(K) to
duly prepare and file all applicable tax returns and tax information reports
that are required to be filed with respect to the Trust on behalf of the
Trust.
(L) to
negotiate the terms of, and the execution and delivery of, the Purchase
Agreement providing for the sale of the Capital Securities;
(M) to
employ or otherwise engage employees, agents (who may be designated as officers
with titles), managers, contractors, advisors, attorneys and consultants and pay
reasonable compensation for such services;
(N) to
incur expenses that are necessary, advisable or incidental to carry out any of
the purposes of the Trust; and
(O) to
take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the preservation and
the continuation of the Trust’s valid existence, rights, franchises and
privileges as a statutory trust under the laws of each jurisdiction (other than
the State of Delaware) in which such existence is necessary to protect the
limited liability of the Holders of the Capital Securities or to enable the
Trust to effect the purposes for which the Trust was created.
(ii) As
among the Trustees and the Administrators, the Institutional Trustee shall have
the power, duty and authority, and is hereby authorized, to act on behalf of the
Trust with respect to the following matters:
(A) the
establishment of the Property Account;
(B) the
receipt of the Debentures;
(C) the
collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the
Debentures in the Property Account;
(D) the
distribution through the Paying Agent of amounts owed to the Holders in respect
of the Securities;
(E) the
exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the
Debentures;
(F) the
sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Securities and
the Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Declaration;
(G) the
distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this
Declaration;
(H) to
the extent provided in this Declaration, the winding up of the affairs of and
liquidation of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the
certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware;
(I) after
any Event of Default (provided that such
Event of Default is not by or with respect to the Institutional Trustee) the
taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Institutional Trustee
may from time to time determine is necessary, advisable or incidental to the
foregoing to give effect to the terms of this Declaration and protect and
conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Holders (without
consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder);
and
(J) to
take all action that may be necessary for the preservation and the continuation
of the Trust’s valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory
trust under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(iii) The
Institutional Trustee shall have the power and authority to act on behalf of the
Trust with respect to any of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of
the Administrators set forth in Section 2.6(a)(i)(D), (E) and (F) herein
but shall not have a duty to do any such act unless specifically requested to do
so in writing by the Sponsor, and shall then be fully protected in acting
pursuant to such written request; and in the event of a conflict between the
action of the Administrators and the action of the Institutional Trustee, the
action of the Institutional Trustee shall prevail.
(b) So
long as this Declaration remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees or
Administrators acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business,
activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated
hereby. In particular, neither the Trustees nor the Administrators may cause the
Trust to (i) acquire any investments or engage in any activities not
authorized by this Declaration, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange,
mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or
interests therein, including to Holders, except as expressly provided herein,
(iii) take any action that would reasonably be expected (A) to cause the
Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a “grantor trust” for United States federal
income tax purposes or (B) to require the trust to register as an Investment
Company under the Investment Company Act, (iv) incur any indebtedness for
borrowed money or issue any other debt, or (v) take or consent to any
action that would result in the placement of a lien on any of the Trust
Property. The Institutional Trustee shall, at the sole cost and
expense of the Trust, defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time
claiming any lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the
Trust or the Holders in their capacity as Holders.
(c) In
connection with the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities, the Sponsor
shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or
effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the
Sponsor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Declaration
are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
(i) the
taking of any action necessary to obtain an exemption from the Securities
Act;
(ii) the
determination of the jurisdictions in which to take appropriate action to
qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and the
determination of any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken
by or on behalf of the Trust, and the advice to the Administrators of actions
they must take on behalf of the Trust, and the preparation for execution and
filing of any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of
the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with
the applicable laws of any such States in connection with the sale of the
Capital Securities;
(iii) the
negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and delivery of, the Purchase
Agreement providing for the sale of the Capital Securities; and
(iv) the
taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to carry out any of the
foregoing activities.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Administrators and the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities are authorized and
directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that
the Trust will not (i) be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act, and (ii) fail to be classified
as a “grantor trust” for United States federal income tax
purposes. The Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Common Securities shall not take any action
inconsistent with the treatment of the Debentures as indebtedness of the
Debenture Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes. In
this connection, the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Common Securities are authorized to take any action, not
inconsistent with applicable laws, the Certificate of Trust or this Declaration,
as amended from time to time, that each of the Administrators and the Holders of
a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities determines in their
discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes.
(e) All
expenses incurred by the Administrators or the Trustees pursuant to this Section
2.6 shall be reimbursed by the Sponsor, and the Trustees and the
Administrators shall have no obligations with respect to such
expenses.
(f) The
assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.
(g) Legal
title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Institutional
Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the
Institutional Trustee and the Administrators for the benefit of the Trust in
accordance with this Declaration.
(h) If
the Institutional Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce
any right or remedy under this Declaration and such proceeding has been
discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to
the Institutional Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the
Sponsor, the Institutional Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any
determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to
their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the
Institutional Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such
proceeding had been instituted.
Section 2.7. Prohibition
of Actions by the Trust and the Institutional Trustee.
(a) The
Trust shall not, and the Institutional Trustee shall cause the Trust not to,
engage in any activity other than as required or authorized by this
Declaration. In particular, the Trust shall not and the Institutional
Trustee shall cause the Trust not to:
(i) invest
any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the Debentures, but shall
distribute all such proceeds to Holders of the Securities pursuant to the terms
of this Declaration and of the Securities;
(ii) acquire
any assets other than as expressly provided herein;
(iii) possess
Trust Property for other than a Trust purpose;
(iv) make
any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans represented by the
Debentures;
(v) possess
any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the Trust assets or the
terms of the Securities in any way whatsoever other than as expressly provided
herein;
(vi) issue
any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership of, or beneficial
interest in, the Trust other than the Securities;
(vii) carry
on any “trade or business” as that phrase is used in the Code; or
(viii) other
than as provided in this Declaration (including Annex I), (A) direct
the time, method and place of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (B) waive any past
default that is waivable under the Indenture, (C) exercise any right to
rescind or annul any declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall
be due and payable, or (D) consent to any amendment, modification or
termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be
required unless the Trust shall have received a written opinion of counsel to
the effect that such modification will not cause the Trust to cease to be
classified as a “grantor trust” for United States federal income tax
purposes.
Section 2.8.
Powers
and Duties of the Institutional Trustee.
(a) The
legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of record in the name
of the Institutional Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust and the
Holders of the Securities. The right, title and interest of the
Institutional Trustee to the Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person
who may hereafter be appointed as Institutional Trustee in accordance with Section
4.7. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or
not conveyancing documents with regard to the Debentures have been executed and
delivered.
(b) The
Institutional Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and interest in the
Debentures to the Administrators or to the Delaware Trustee.
(c) The
Institutional Trustee shall:
(i) establish
and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing trust account (the “Property Account”) in
the name of and under the exclusive control of the Institutional Trustee,
maintained in the Institutional Trustee’s trust department, on behalf of the
Holders of the Securities and, upon the receipt of payments of funds made in
respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee, deposit such funds
into the Property Account and make payments, or cause the Paying Agent to make
payments, to the Holders of the Capital Securities and Holders of the Common
Securities from the Property Account in accordance with Section
5.1. Funds in the Property Account shall be held uninvested until
disbursed in accordance with this Declaration;
(ii) engage
in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect
the redemption of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities to the extent
the Debentures are redeemed or mature; and
(iii) upon
written notice of distribution issued by the Administrators in accordance with
the terms of the Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be
necessary or appropriate to effect the distribution of the Debentures to Holders
of Securities upon the occurrence of certain circumstances pursuant to the terms
of the Securities.
(d) The
Institutional Trustee may bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate,
resort to legal action with respect to, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of
or against, the Trust that arise out of or in connection with an Event of
Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee has actual
knowledge or arises out of the Institutional Trustee’s duties and obligations
under this Declaration; provided, however, that if an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable
to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or premium, if any, on or
principal of the Debentures on the date such interest, premium, if any, or
principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption
date), then a Holder of the Capital Securities may directly institute a
proceeding for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal
to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder (a
“Direct
Action”) on or after the respective due date specified in the
Debentures. In connection with such Direct Action, the rights of the
Holders of the Common Securities will be subrogated to the rights of such Holder
of the Capital Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Debenture
Issuer to such Holder of the Capital Securities in such Direct Action; provided, however, that no
Holder of the Common Securities may exercise such right of subrogation so long
as an Event of Default with respect to the Capital Securities has occurred and
is continuing.
(e) The
Institutional Trustee shall continue to serve as a Trustee until
either:
(i) the
Trust has been completely liquidated and the proceeds of the liquidation
distributed to the Holders of the Securities pursuant to the terms of the
Securities and this Declaration; or
(ii) a
Successor Institutional Trustee has been appointed and has accepted that
appointment in accordance with Section
4.7.
(f) The
Institutional Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of the rights,
powers and privileges of a Holder of the Debentures under the Indenture and, if
an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Institutional Trustee may, for
the benefit of Holders of the Securities, enforce its rights as holder of the
Debentures subject to the rights of the Holders pursuant to this Declaration
(including Annex I) and the terms of the Securities.
The
Institutional Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this Section
2.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the
Trust set out in Section
2.3, and the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action that is
inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section
2.3.
Section 2.9. Certain
Duties and Responsibilities of the Institutional Trustee and
Administrators.
(a) The
Institutional Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after
the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Declaration and no implied covenants shall be read into this Declaration
against the Institutional Trustee. In case an Event of Default has
occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.10), the
Institutional Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it
by this Declaration, 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 his or her own affairs.
(b) The
duties and responsibilities of the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators
shall be as provided by this Declaration. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no provision of this Declaration shall require the Institutional
Trustee or Administrators to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur
any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties hereunder, or
in the exercise of any of their rights or powers if the Institutional Trustee or
such Administrator shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of
such funds or adequate protection against such risk of liability is not
reasonably assured to Institutional Trustee or such
Administrator. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every
provision of this Declaration relating to the conduct or affecting the liability
of or affording protection to the Institutional Trustee or Administrators shall
be subject to the provisions of this Article. Nothing in this
Declaration shall be construed to relieve an Administrator or the Institutional
Trustee from liability for the Institutional Trustee’s or such Administrator’s
own negligent act, Institutional Trustee’s or such Administrator’s own negligent
failure to act, or the Institutional Trustee’s or such Administrator’s own
willful misconduct. To the extent that, at law or in equity, the
Institutional Trustee or an Administrator has duties and liabilities relating to
the Trust or to the Holders, the Institutional Trustee or such Administrator
shall not be liable to the Trust or to any Holder for the Institutional
Trustee’s or such Administrator’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this
Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that
they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Administrators or the
Institutional Trustee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the
Sponsor and the Holders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the
Administrators or the Institutional Trustee.
(c) All
payments made by the Institutional Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect of the
Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from the Trust
Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue or
proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Institutional Trustee or a Paying
Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each
Holder, by its acceptance of a Security, agrees that it will look solely to the
revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for
distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees and the
Administrators are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in
respect of any Security or for any other liability in respect of any
Security. This Section 2.9(c) does not limit the liability of the
Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Declaration.
(d) The
Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for its own acts or omissions
hereunder except as a result of its own negligent action, its own negligent
failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) the
Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good
faith by an Authorized Officer of the Institutional Trustee, unless it shall be
proved that the Institutional Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the
pertinent facts;
(ii) the
Institutional Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the
Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities or the Common Securities, as applicable, relating to the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
Institutional Trustee under this Declaration;
(iii) the
Institutional Trustee’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and
physical preservation of the Debentures and the Property Account shall be to
deal with such property in a similar manner as the Institutional Trustee deals
with similar property for its fiduciary accounts generally, subject to the
protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Institutional Trustee
under this Declaration;
(iv) the
Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received
by it except as it may otherwise agree in writing with the Sponsor; and money
held by the Institutional Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held
by it except in relation to the Property Account maintained by the Institutional
Trustee pursuant to Section 2.8(c)(i) and except to the extent otherwise
required by law; and
(v) the
Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by
the Administrators or the Sponsor with their respective duties under this
Declaration, nor shall the Institutional Trustee be liable for any default or
misconduct of the Administrators or the Sponsor.
Section 2.10. Certain
Rights of Institutional Trustee. Subject to the provisions of
Section
2.9:
(a) the
Institutional Trustee may conclusively rely and shall fully be protected in
acting, or refraining from acting, in good faith upon any resolution, opinion of
counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee,
certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, appraisal, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the
proper party or parties;
(b) if
(i) in performing its duties under this Declaration, the Institutional
Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action,
(ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Declaration, the
Institutional Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other
provisions contained herein, or (iii) the Institutional Trustee is unsure
of the application of any provision of this Declaration, then, except as to any
matter as to which the Holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote under
the terms of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee may deliver a notice to
the Sponsor requesting the Sponsor’s written instructions as to the course of
action to be taken and the Institutional Trustee shall take such action, or
refrain from taking such action, as the Institutional Trustee shall be
instructed in writing, in which event the Institutional Trustee shall have no
liability except for its own negligence or willful misconduct;
(c) any
direction or act of the Sponsor or the Administrators contemplated by this
Declaration shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’
Certificate;
(d) whenever
in the administration of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall deem
it desirable that a matter be proved or established before undertaking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Institutional Trustee (unless
other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may request and conclusively
rely upon an Officers’ Certificate as to factual matters which, upon receipt of
such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the
Administrators;
(e) the
Institutional Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or
registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation
statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording,
refiling or reregistration thereof;
(f) the
Institutional Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection (which counsel
may be counsel to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates) and the advice of such
counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in
reliance thereon and in accordance with such advice; the Institutional Trustee
shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Declaration from any court of competent
jurisdiction;
(g) the
Institutional Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or powers vested in it by this Declaration at the request or direction of any of
the Holders pursuant to this Declaration, unless such Holders shall have offered
to the Institutional Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it
against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in
compliance with such request or direction; provided, that
nothing contained in this Section 2.10(g) shall be taken to relieve the
Institutional Trustee, subject to Section 2.9(b), upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.7), of
the power to exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Declaration, 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
his or her own affairs;
(h) the
Institutional Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture,
note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, unless
requested in writing to do so by one or more Holders, but the Institutional
Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or
matters as it may see fit;
(i) the
Institutional Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or
attorneys and the Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for any
misconduct or negligence on the part of or for the supervision of, any such
agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(j) whenever
in the administration of this Declaration the Institutional Trustee shall deem
it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or
right or taking any other action hereunder the Institutional Trustee
(i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Capital Securities
which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in
liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as would be entitled to direct the
Institutional Trustee under the terms of the Capital Securities in respect of
such remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy
or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and
(iii) shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with such
instructions;
(k) except
as otherwise expressly provided in this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee
shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under
the provisions of this Declaration;
(l) when
the Institutional Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with
a Bankruptcy Event, such expenses (including the fees and expenses of its
counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute
expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law or law relating to creditors
rights generally;
(m) the
Institutional Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of an Event of Default
unless a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee obtains actual
knowledge of such event or the Institutional Trustee receives written notice of
such event from any Holder, the Sponsor or the Debenture Trustee;
(n) any
action taken by the Institutional Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the
Trust and the Holders of the Securities, and the signature of the Institutional
Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any
such action and no third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority
of the Institutional Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the
terms and provisions of this Declaration, both of which shall be conclusively
evidenced by the Institutional Trustee’s or its agent’s taking such action;
and
(o) no
provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation
on the Institutional Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right,
power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in
which it shall be illegal, or in which the Institutional Trustee shall be
unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any
such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the
Institutional Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
Section 2.11. Delaware
Trustee. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Declaration other than Section 4.1, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled
to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties
and responsibilities of any of the Trustees or the Administrators described in
this Declaration (except as may be required under the Statutory Trust
Act). Except as set forth in Section 4.1, the Delaware Trustee shall
be a Trustee for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of
§ 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act.
Section 2.12. Execution
of Documents. Unless otherwise determined in writing by the
Institutional Trustee, and except as otherwise required by the Statutory Trust
Act, the Institutional Trustee, or any one or more of the Administrators, as the
case may be, is authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the Trust any
documents, agreements, instruments or certificates that the Trustees or the
Administrators, as the case may be, have the power and authority to execute
pursuant to Section
2.6.
Section 2.13. Not
Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The
recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be taken as the
statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for
their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the
value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part
thereof. The Trustees make no representations as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Declaration, the Debentures or the Securities.
Section 2.14. Duration
of Trust. The Trust, unless earlier dissolved pursuant to the
provisions of Article VII hereof, shall be in existence for 35 years from
the Closing Date.
Section 2.15. Mergers.
(a) The
Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to any corporation or other body, except as described in Sections 2.15(b) and
(c) and except in connection with the liquidation of the Trust and the
distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities pursuant to Section
7.1(a)(iv) of the Declaration or Section 3 of Annex I.
(b) The
Trust may, with the consent of the Institutional Trustee and without the consent
of the Holders of the Capital Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or
into, or be replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state;
provided that:
(i) if
the Trust is not the surviving entity, such successor entity (the “Successor Entity”)
either:
(A) expressly
assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under the Securities;
or
(B) substitutes
for the Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the
Securities (the “Successor
Securities”) so that the Successor Securities rank the same as the
Securities rank with respect to Distributions and payments upon Liquidation,
redemption and otherwise;
(ii) the
Sponsor expressly appoints a trustee of the Successor Entity that possesses
substantially the same powers and duties as the Institutional Trustee as the
Holder of the Debentures;
(iii) such
merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the
rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including
any Successor Securities) in any material respect;
(iv) the
Institutional Trustee receives written confirmation from a nationally recognized
statistical rating organization that rates securities issued by the initial
purchaser of the Capital Securities that it will not reduce or withdraw the
rating of any such securities because of such merger, conversion, consolidation,
amalgamation or replacement;
(v) such
Successor Entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the
Trust;
(vi) prior
to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Trust has
received an opinion of a nationally recognized independent counsel to the Trust
experienced in such matters to the effect that:
(A) such
merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the
rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including
any Successor Securities) in any material respect;
(B) following
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor
the Successor Entity will be required to register as an Investment Company;
and
(C) following
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Trust (or the
Successor Entity) will continue to be classified as a “grantor trust” for United
States federal income tax purposes;
(vii) the
Sponsor guarantees the obligations of such Successor Entity under the Successor
Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee;
(viii) the
Sponsor owns 100% of the common securities of any Successor Entity;
and
(ix) prior
to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Institutional
Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate of the Administrators and
an opinion of counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent under
this Section 2.15(b) to such transaction have been satisfied.
(c) Notwithstanding
Section 2.15(b), the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100%
in aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities, consolidate, amalgamate,
merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit any other
entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such
consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the Trust or
Successor Entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United
States federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE
III.
SPONSOR
Section 3.1. Sponsor’s
Purchase of Common Securities. On the Closing Date, the
Sponsor will purchase all of the Common Securities issued by the Trust in an
amount at least equal to 3% of the capital of the Trust, at the same time as the
Capital Securities are sold.
Section 3.2. Responsibilities
of the Sponsor. In connection with the issue and sale of the
Capital Securities, the Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and
responsibility to engage in, or direct the Administrators to engage in, the
following activities:
(a) to
determine the jurisdictions in which to take appropriate action to qualify or
register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and to do any and all
such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the Trust, and advise the
Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing any
documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary,
advisable or incidental thereto in order to comply with the applicable laws of
any such jurisdictions; and
(b) to
negotiate the terms of and/or execute and deliver on behalf of the Trust the
Purchase Agreement and other related agreements providing for the sale of the
Capital Securities.
Section 3.3. Reports. In
the event that either (a) an Event of Default occurred and is continuing, or (b)
the Sponsor has elected to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by
extending the interest payment period under the Indenture, Sponsor shall provide
to the Trustee and the Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Capital
Securities (i) all public filings with any governmental authority, (ii) all
private filings with any governmental authority, provided such governmental
authority does not object to sharing such private filings, (iii) all annual and
quarterly financial statements, including, but not limited to financial
statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and SAP, and (iv) any other
information reasonably requested by a Holder of Capital Securities.
Section 3.4. Expenses. In
connection with the offering, sale and issuance of the Debentures to the Trust
and in connection with the sale of the Securities by the Trust, the Sponsor, in
its capacity as Debenture Issuer, shall:
(a) pay
all reasonable costs and expenses relating to the offering, sale and issuance of
the Debentures, including compensation of the Debenture Trustee under the
Indenture in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture;
(b) be
responsible for and shall pay all debts and obligations (other than with respect
to the Securities) and all costs and expenses of the Trust (including, but not
limited to, costs and expenses relating to the organization, maintenance and
dissolution of the Trust), the offering, sale and issuance of the Securities
(including fees to the placement agents in connection therewith), the fees and
expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) of the Institutional
Trustee and the Administrators, the costs and expenses relating to the operation
of the Trust, including, without limitation, costs and expenses of accountants,
attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping services, expenses for printing and
engraving and computing or accounting equipment, Paying Agents, Registrars,
Transfer Agents, duplicating, travel and telephone and other telecommunications
expenses and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition,
financing, and disposition of Trust assets and the enforcement by the
Institutional Trustee of the rights of the Holders; and
(c) pay
any and all taxes (other than United States withholding taxes attributable to
the Trust or its assets) and all liabilities, costs and expenses with respect to
such taxes of the Trust.
The
Sponsor’s obligations under this Section 3.3 shall be for the benefit of,
and shall be enforceable by, any Person to whom such debts, obligations, costs,
expenses and taxes are owed (a “Creditor”) whether or
not such Creditor has received notice hereof. Any such Creditor may
enforce the Sponsor’s obligations under this Section 3.3 directly against
the Sponsor and the Sponsor irrevocably waives any right or remedy to require
that any such Creditor take any action against the Trust or any other Person
before proceeding against the Sponsor. The Sponsor agrees to execute
such additional agreements as may be necessary or desirable in order to give
full effect to the provisions of this Section 3.3.
Section 3.5. Right to
Proceed. The Sponsor acknowledges the rights of Holders to
institute a Direct Action as set forth in Section 2.8(d) hereto.
ARTICLE
IV.
INSTITUTIONAL
TRUSTEE AND ADMINISTRATORS
Section 4.1. Number of
Trustees. The number of
Trustees shall initially be two, and;
(a) at
any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor may, by written
instrument, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; and
(b) after
the issuance of any Securities, the number of Trustees may be increased or
decreased by vote of the Holder of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the Holder of the Common
Securities; provided, however, that there
shall be a Delaware Trustee if required by Section 4.2; and there shall always
be one Trustee who shall be the Institutional Trustee, and such Trustee may also
serve as Delaware Trustee if it meets the applicable requirements, in which case
Section 2.11 shall have no application to such entity in its capacity as
Institutional Trustee.
Section 4.2. Delaware
Trustee. If required by
the Statutory Trust Act, one Trustee (the “Delaware Trustee”)
shall be:
(a) a
natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or
(b) if
not a natural person, an entity which is organized under the laws of the United
States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, has its principal place
of business in the State of Delaware, and otherwise meets the requirements of
applicable law, including § 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act.
Section 4.3. Institutional
Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There
shall at all times be one Institutional Trustee which shall:
(i) not
be an Affiliate of the Sponsor;
(ii) not
offer or provide credit or credit enhancement to the Trust; and
(iii) be
a banking corporation or national association organized and doing business under
the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of
Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers,
having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars
($50,000,000.00), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, state,
or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation or national
association publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or
to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above,
then for the purposes of this Section 4.3(a)(iii), the combined capital and
surplus of such corporation or national association shall be deemed to be its
combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition
so published.
(b) If
at any time the Institutional Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under
Section 4.1(a), the Institutional Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner
and with the effect set forth in Section 4.3(a).
(c) If
the Institutional Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within
the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,
the Institutional Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the
extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to this
Declaration.
(d) The
initial Institutional Trustee shall be Wilmington Trust Company.
Section 4.4. Certain
Qualifications of the Delaware Trustee Generally. The Delaware
Trustee shall be a U.S. Person and either a natural person who is at least 21
years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more Authorized
Officers.
Section 4.5. Administrators. Each
Administrator shall be a U.S. Person, 21 years of age or older and authorized to
bind the Sponsor. The initial Administrators shall be Arturo M.
Raschbaum, John M. Marshaleck and Karen L. Schmitt. There shall at
all times be at least one Administrator. Except where a requirement
for action by a specific number of Administrators is expressly set forth in this
Declaration and except with respect to any action the taking of which is the
subject of a meeting of the Administrators, any action required or permitted to
be taken by the Administrators may be taken by, and any power of the
Administrators may be exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such
Administrator.
Section 4.6. Initial
Delaware Trustee. The initial Delaware Trustee shall be
Wilmington Trust Company.
Section 4.7. Appointment,
Removal and Resignation of Trustees and Administrators.
(a) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Declaration, no resignation or removal of any
Trustee (the “Relevant 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 this Section
4.7.
(b) Subject
to the immediately preceding paragraph, a Trustee may resign at any time by
giving written notice thereof to the Holders of the Securities and by appointing
a successor Relevant Trustee. Upon the resignation of the
Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall appoint a successor by
requesting from at least three Persons meeting the eligibility requirements
their expenses and charges to serve as the successor Institutional Trustee on a
form provided by the Administrators, and selecting the Person who agrees to the
lowest expense and charges (the “Successor Institutional
Trustee”). If the instrument of acceptance by the successor
Relevant Trustee required by this Section
4.7 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within
60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation or delivery of the
instrument of removal, the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the expense of the
Trust, any Federal, state or District of Columbia court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant
Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if
any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Relevant Trustee. The
Institutional Trustee shall have no liability for the selection of such
successor pursuant to this Section
4.7.
(c) Unless
an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any Trustee may be
removed at any time by an act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount
of the Common Securities. If any Trustee shall be so removed, the Holders of the
Common Securities, by act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of
the Common Securities delivered to the Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint
a successor Relevant Trustee, and such Successor Institutional Trustee shall
comply with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.7. If an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Institutional Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed by the act of the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, delivered to the
Relevant Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the
Trust). If any Trustee shall be so removed, the Holders of Capital
Securities, by act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities then outstanding delivered to the Relevant Trustee, shall
promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and such successor
Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Section
4.7. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed by the
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities and
accepted appointment in the manner required by this Section
4.7, within 30 days after delivery of an instrument of removal, the
Relevant Trustee or any Holder who has been a Holder of the Securities for at
least 6 months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated,
petition any Federal, state or District of Columbia court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of the a successor Relevant
Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if
any, as it may deem proper, appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or
Trustees.
(d) The
Institutional Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of
a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders in the
manner provided in Section 13.1(d) and shall give notice to the
Sponsor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant
Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Institutional
Trustee.
(e) Notwithstanding
the foregoing or any other provision of this Declaration, in the event a
Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or is adjudged by a court to have
become incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death,
incompetence or incapacity may be filled by the Institutional Trustee following
the procedures in this Section 4.7 (with the successor being a Person who
satisfies the eligibility requirement for a Delaware Trustee set forth in this
Declaration) (the “Successor Delaware
Trustee”).
(f) In
case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, the retiring
Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the
Securities shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein each successor
Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain
such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to,
and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts
and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the Securities and
the Trust and (ii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this
Declaration as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the Trust by more than one Relevant Trustee, it being
understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall constitute such
Institutional Trustees co-trustees and upon the execution and delivery of such
amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall
become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Relevant
Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with
all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but,
on request of the Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring
Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor
Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such
retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities and the Trust
subject to the payment of all unpaid fees, expenses and indemnities of such
retiring Relevant Trustee.
(g) No
Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the acts or
omissions to act of any Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be.
(h) The
Holders of the Capital Securities will have no right to vote to appoint, remove
or replace the Administrators, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the
Holder of the Common Securities.
(i)
Any successor Delaware Trustee shall file an amendment to the Certificate of
Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware identifying the name
and principal place of business of such Delaware Trustee in the State of
Delaware.
Section 4.8.
Vacancies
Among Trustees. If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any
reason and the number of Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 4.1 a
vacancy shall occur. A resolution certifying the existence of such
vacancy by the Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the
Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of such
vacancy. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in
accordance with Section 4.7.
Section
4.9. Effect of
Vacancies. The death, resignation, retirement, removal,
bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the
duties of a Trustee shall not operate to dissolve, terminate or annul the Trust
or terminate this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the number of
Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of a
Trustee in accordance with Section 4.7, the Institutional Trustee shall have all
the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed
upon the Trustees by this Declaration.
Section
4.10. Meetings
of the Trustees and the Administrators. Meetings of the
Administrators shall be held from time to time upon the call of an
Administrator. Regular meetings of the Administrators may be held in
person in the United States or by telephone, at a place (if applicable) and time
fixed by resolution of the Administrators. Notice of any in-person
meetings of the Trustees with the Administrators or meetings of the
Administrators shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing
(including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than
48 hours before such meeting. Notice of any telephonic meetings
of the Trustees with the Administrators or meetings of the Administrators or any
committee thereof shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing
(including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than
24 hours before a meeting. Notices shall contain a brief
statement of the time, place and anticipated purposes of the
meeting. The presence (whether in person or by telephone) of a
Trustee or an Administrator, as the case may be, at a meeting shall constitute a
waiver of notice of such meeting except where the Trustee or an Administrator,
as the case may be, attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to
the transaction of any activity on the grounds that the meeting has not been
lawfully called or convened. Unless provided otherwise in this
Declaration, any action of the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may
be, may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees or the
Administrators present (whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote
with respect to such matter, provided that a Quorum is present, or without a
meeting by the unanimous written consent of the Trustees or the
Administrators. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators
together shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Trustee or an
Administrator.
Section
4.11. Delegation
of Power.
(a) Any
Administrator may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate
to any other natural person over the age of 21 that is a U.S. Person his or her
power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 2.6;
and
(b) the
Administrators shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their
number the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in
the name of the Trust or the names of the Administrators or otherwise as the
Administrators may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not
prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set
forth herein.
Section
4.12. Conversion,
Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any Person into which
the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware 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 Institutional Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all
the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee shall be the successor of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and
eligible under this Article and, provided, further, that such
Person shall file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware as contemplated in Section
4.7(i).
ARTICLE
V.
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section
5.1. Distributions. Holders
shall receive Distributions in accordance with the applicable terms of the
relevant Holder’s Securities. Distributions shall be made on the Capital
Securities and the Common Securities in accordance with the preferences set
forth in their respective terms. If and to the extent that the
Debenture Issuer makes a payment of Interest or any principal on the Debentures
held by the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall and is
directed to, to the extent funds are available for that purpose, make a
distribution (a “Distribution”) of
such amounts to Holders.
ARTICLE
VI.
ISSUANCE
OF SECURITIES
Section
6.1. General
Provisions Regarding Securities.
(a) The
Administrators shall, on behalf of the Trust, issue one series of capital
securities, evidenced by a certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-1, representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
the Trust and having such terms as are set forth in Annex I and one series
of common securities, evidenced by a certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-2, representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I. The Trust
shall issue no securities or other interests in the assets of the Trust other
than the Capital Securities and the Common Securities. The Capital
Securities rank pari
passu to, and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with, the Common
Securities except that, where an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to payment in respect
of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are
subordinated to the rights to payment of the Holders of the Capital Securities
as set forth in Annex I.
(b) The
Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by one or more
Administrators. Such signature shall be the facsimile or manual signature of any
Administrator. In case any Administrator of the Trust who shall have
signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Administrator before the
Certificates so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Certificates
nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who signed such Certificates
had not ceased to be such Administrator, and any Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Trust by such persons who, at the actual date of execution of such
Security, shall be an Administrator of the Trust, although at the date of the
execution and delivery of the Declaration any such person was not such an
Administrator. A Capital Security shall not be valid until
authenticated by the facsimile or manual signature of an Authorized Officer of
the Institutional Trustee. Such signature shall be conclusive
evidence that the Capital Security has been authenticated under this
Declaration. Upon written order of the Trust signed by one
Administrator, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate the Capital
Securities for original issue. The Institutional Trustee may appoint
an authenticating agent that is a U.S. Person acceptable to the Trust to
authenticate the Capital Securities. A Common Security need not be so
authenticated and shall be valid upon execution by one or more
administrators.
(c) The
Capital Securities issued to QIBs shall be, except as provided in Section 6.4,
Book-Entry Capital Securities issued in the form of one or more Global Capital
Securities registered in the name of the Depositary, or its nominee and
deposited with the Depositary or a custodian for the Depositary for credit by
the Depositary to the respective accounts of the Depositary Participants thereof
(or such other accounts as they may direct). The Capital Securities
issued to a Person other than a QIB shall be issued in the form of Definitive
Capital Securities Certificates
(d) The
consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the Securities shall
constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall not constitute a
loan to the Trust.
(e) Upon
issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the Securities so
issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and, except as provided
in Section 9.1(b) with respect to the Common Securities,
non-assessable.
(f)
Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder in accordance with the terms
of this Declaration, shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to
the terms of, and shall be bound by, this Declaration, the Guarantee and the
Parent Guarantee.
Section
6.2. Paying
Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Trust shall maintain
in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where the Securities may be
presented for payment (“Paying Agent”), and
an office or agency where the Securities may be presented for registration of
transfer or exchange (the “Transfer
Agent”). The Trust shall keep or cause to be kept at such
office or agency a register for the purpose of registering Securities, transfers
and exchanges of Securities (the “Register”), such
register to be held by a registrar (the “Registrar”). The
Administrators may appoint the Paying Agent, the Registrar and the Transfer
Agent and may appoint one or more additional Paying Agents or one or more
co-Registrars, or one or more co-Transfer Agents in such other locations as they
shall determine. The term “Paying Agent”
includes any additional paying agent, the term “Registrar” includes
any additional registrar or co-Registrar and the term “Transfer Agent”
includes any additional transfer agent. The Administrators may change
any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar at any time without prior notice
to any Holder. The Administrators shall notify the Institutional
Trustee of the name and address of any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and
Registrar not a party to this Declaration. The Administrators hereby
initially appoint the Institutional Trustee to act as Paying Agent, Transfer
Agent and Registrar for the Capital Securities and the Common
Securities. The Institutional Trustee or any of its Affiliates in the
United States may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar.
Section
6.3. Form and
Dating. The Capital Securities and the Institutional Trustee’s
certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-1, and the Common Securities shall be substantially in the form
of Exhibit A-2, each of which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made
a part of this Declaration. Certificates may be typed, printed,
lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably
acceptable to the Administrators, as conclusively evidenced by their execution
thereof. The Securities may have letters, numbers, notations or other
marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements required
by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Trust is subject if any, or
usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form
acceptable to the Sponsor). The Trust at the direction of the Sponsor
shall furnish any such legend not contained in Exhibit A-1 to the
Institutional Trustee in writing. Each Capital Security shall be
dated on or before the date of its authentication. The terms and
provisions of the Securities set forth in Annex I and the forms of Securities
set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 are part of the terms of this Declaration
and to the extent applicable, the Institutional Trustee, the Delaware Trustee,
the Administrators and the Sponsor, by their execution and delivery of this
Declaration, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound
thereby. Capital Securities will be issued only in blocks having an
aggregate liquidation amount of not less than $100,000.00 and any multiple of
$1,000.00 in excess thereof.
The
Capital Securities are being offered and sold by the Trust pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement in definitive, registered form without coupons for certain of
the Holders, and the balance in book entry form as a Global Capital Security, in
each case with the Restricted Securities Legend.
Section
6.4. Book-Entry Capital
Securities.
(a) A
Global Capital Security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for Definitive
Capital Securities Certificates registered in the names of the Owners only if
such exchange complies with Section 6.5 and (i)
the Depositary advises the Administrators and the Institutional Trustee in
writing that the Depositary is no longer willing or able to properly discharge
its responsibilities with respect to the Global Capital Security, and no
qualified successor is appointed by the Administrators within ninety (90) days
of receipt of such notice, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency
registered under the Exchange Act and the Administrators fail to appoint a
qualified successor within ninety (90) days of obtaining knowledge of such
event, (iii) the Administrators at their option advise the Institutional Trustee
in writing that the Trust elects to terminate the book-entry system through the
Depositary or (iv) an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv)
above, the Administrators shall notify the Depositary and instruct the
Depositary to notify all Owners of Book-Entry Capital Securities, the Delaware
Trustee and the Trustee of the occurrence of such event and of the availability
of the Definitive Capital Securities Certificates to Owners of the Capital
Securities requesting the same. Upon the issuance of Definitive Capital
Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall recognize the Holders of the
Definitive Capital Securities Certificates as
Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Owner of a beneficial
interest in a Global Capital Security wishes at any time to transfer an interest
in such Global Capital Security to any other Person, including a Person other
than a QIB, such transfer shall be effected, subject to the Applicable
Depositary Procedures, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.4 and Section 6.5, and the
transferee shall receive a Definitive Capital Securities Certificate in
connection with such transfer. A holder of a Definitive Capital
Securities Certificate that is a QIB may, upon request and in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 6.4 and Section 6.5, exchange
such Definitive Capital Securities Certificate for a beneficial interest in a
Global Capital Security.
(b) If
any Global Capital Security is to be exchanged for Definitive Capital Securities
Certificates or canceled in part, or if any Definitive Capital Securities
Certificate is to be exchanged in whole or in part for any Global Capital
Security, then either (i) such Global Capital Security shall be so surrendered
for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article VI or (ii) the
aggregate Liquidation Amount represented by such Global Capital Security shall
be reduced, subject to Section 6.3, or increased by an amount equal to the
Liquidation Amount represented by that portion of the Global Capital Security to
be so exchanged or canceled, or equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by
such Definitive Capital Securities Certificates to be so exchanged for any
Global Capital Security, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate
adjustment made on the records of the Registrar, whereupon the Institutional
Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Depositary Procedures, shall instruct
the Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding
adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender to the Administrators or the
Registrar of any Global Capital Security or Securities by the Depositary,
accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrators, or any one of
them, shall execute the Definitive Capital Securities Certificates in accordance
with the instructions of the Depositary. None of the Registrar,
Administrators or the Trustees shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such
instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in
relying on, such instructions.
(c) Every
Definitive Capital Securities Certificate executed and delivered upon
registration or transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Capital
Security or any portion thereof shall be executed and delivered in the form of,
and shall be, a Global Capital Security, unless such Definitive Capital
Securities Certificate is registered in the name of a Person other than the
Depositary for such Global Capital Security or a nominee thereof.
(d) The
Depositary or its nominee, as registered owner of a Global Capital Security,
shall be the Holder of such Global Capital Security for all purposes under this
Declaration and the Global Capital Security, and Owners with respect to a Global
Capital Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Depositary
Procedures. The Registrar, the Administrators and the Trustees shall
be entitled to deal with the Depositary for all purposes of this Declaration
relating to the Global Capital Securities (including the payment of the
Liquidation Amount of and Distributions on the Book-Entry Capital Securities
represented thereby and the giving of instructions or directions by Owners of
Book-Entry Capital Securities represented thereby and the giving of notices) as
the sole Holder of the Book-Entry Capital Securities represented thereby and
shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof. None of the
Administrators, Trustees nor the Registrar shall have any liability in respect
of any transfers effected by the Depositary.
(e) The
rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Capital Securities shall be exercised
only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law,
the Applicable Depositary Procedures and agreements between such Owners and the
Depositary and/or the Depositary Participants; provided, solely for the purpose
of determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of Capital Securities
have voted on any matter provided for in this Declaration, to the extent that
Capital Securities are represented by a Global Capital Security, the
Administrators and the Trustees may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully
protected in relying on, any written instrument (including a proxy) delivered to
the Institutional Trustee by the Depositary setting forth the Owners’ votes or
assigning the right to vote on any matter to any other Persons either in whole
or in part. To the extent that Capital Securities are represented by
a Global Capital Security, the initial Depositary will make book-entry transfers
among the Depositary Participants and receive and transmit payments on the
Capital Securities that are represented by a Global Capital Security to such
Depositary Participants, and none of the Sponsor, the Administrators or the
Trustees shall have any responsibility or obligation with respect
thereto.
(f) To
the extent that a notice or other communication to the Holders is required under
this Declaration, for so long as Capital Securities are represented by a Global
Capital Security, the Administrators and the Trustees shall give all such
notices and communications to the Depositary, and shall have no obligations to
the Owners.
Section
6.5. Registration
of Transfer and Exchange of Capital Securities Certificates.
(a) The
Institutional Trustee shall keep or cause to be kept, at the Corporate Trust
Office, a register or registers (the “Securities Register”)
in which the registrar and transfer agent with respect to the Securities (the
“Securities
Registrar”), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe,
shall provide for the registration of Capital Securities Certificates and Common
Securities Certificates and registration of transfers and exchanges of Capital
Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Person acting as the
Institutional Trustee shall at all times also be the Registrar. The
provisions of Article
IV shall apply to the Institutional Trustee in its role as
Registrar.
(b) Subject
to this Section
6.5, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Capital
Securities Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 6.5(f), the
Administrators or any one of them shall execute by manual or facsimile signature
and deliver to the Institutional Trustee, and the Institutional Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or
transferees, one or more new Capital Securities Certificates in authorized
denominations of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount as may be required by this
Declaration dated the date of execution by such Administrator or
Administrators. At the option of a Holder, Capital Securities
Certificates may be exchanged for other Capital Securities Certificates in
authorized denominations and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon
surrender of the Capital Securities Certificate to be exchanged at the office or
agency maintained pursuant to Section
6.5(f). Whenever any Capital Securities Certificates are so
surrendered for exchange, the Administrators or any one of them shall execute by
manual or facsimile signature and deliver to the Institutional Trustee, and the
Institutional Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Capital Securities
Certificates that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to
receive.
(c) The
Securities Registrar shall not be required, (i) to issue, register the transfer
of or exchange any Capital Security during a period beginning at the opening of
business fifteen (15) days before the day of selection for redemption of such
Capital Securities pursuant to Section 4 of Annex I hereto and ending at the
close of business on the day of mailing of the notice of redemption or (ii) to
register the transfer of or exchange any Capital Security so selected for
redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any such Capital Security
to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.
(d) Every
Capital Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of
transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Securities Registrar duly
executed by the Holder or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing and
(i) if such Capital Securities Certificate is being transferred to a QIB,
accompanied by a certificate of the transferor substantially in the form set
forth as Exhibit
B-1 hereto or (ii) if such Capital Securities Certificate is being
transferred otherwise than to a QIB, accompanied by a certificate of the
transferee substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit B-2
hereto.
(e) No
service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of
Capital Securities Certificates, but the Institutional Trustee on behalf of the
Trust may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental
charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of
Capital Securities Certificates.
(f) The
Administrators shall designate an office or offices or agency or agencies where
Capital Securities Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer
or exchange. The Sponsor initially designates the Corporate Trust Office as its
office and agency for such purposes. The Administrators shall give prompt
written notice to the Sponsor, the Institutional Trustee and to the Holders of
any change in the location of any such office or agency.
Section
6.6. Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
If:
(a) any
mutilated Certificates should be surrendered to the Registrar, or if the
Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or
theft of any Certificate; and
(b) there
shall be delivered to the Registrar, the Administrators and the Institutional
Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to keep each of
them harmless;
then, in
the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by a
protected purchaser, an Administrator on behalf of the Trust shall execute (and
in the case of a Capital Security Certificate, the Institutional Trustee shall
authenticate) and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like
denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate
under this Section 6.6, the Registrar or the Administrators may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Certificate
issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an
ownership interest in the relevant Securities, as if originally issued, whether
or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any
time.
Section
6.7. Temporary
Securities. Until definitive Securities are ready for
delivery, the Administrators may prepare and, in the case of the Capital
Securities, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, temporary
Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form
of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Administrators
consider appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable
delay, the Administrators shall prepare and, in the case of the Capital
Securities, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, definitive Securities
in exchange for temporary Securities.
Section
6.8. Cancellation. The
Administrators at any time may deliver Securities to the Institutional Trustee
for cancellation. The Registrar shall forward to the Institutional
Trustee any Securities surrendered to it for registration of transfer,
redemption or payment. The Institutional Trustee shall promptly
cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, payment,
replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Securities as the
Administrators direct. The Administrators may not issue new
Securities to replace Securities that have been paid or that have been delivered
to the Institutional Trustee for cancellation.
Section
6.9. CUSIP
Numbers. The Trust in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP”
number (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Institutional Trustee shall
use CUSIP numbers in any notice of redemption as a convenience to Holders,
provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made
as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as
contained in any notice of redemption and that identification numbers printed on
the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in
or omission of such numbers. The Trust shall promptly notify the
Institutional Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP
numbers.
Section
6.10. Rights of
Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults.
(a) The
legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Institutional
Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.5, and the
Holders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided
beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Securities and
they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property,
profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The
Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set
forth therein and in this Declaration. The Securities shall have no
preemptive or similar rights.
(b) For
so long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if upon an Indenture Event
of Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not less than 25% in
principal amount of the outstanding Debentures fail to declare the principal of
all of the Debentures to be immediately due and payable, the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities then outstanding shall
have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the
Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee.
At any
time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Debentures has been
made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been
obtained by the Debenture Trustee as provided in the Indenture, if the
Institutional Trustee, subject to the provisions hereof, fails to annul any such
declaration and waive such default, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities, by written notice to the Institutional
Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such
declaration and its consequences if:
(i) the
Debenture Issuer has paid or deposited with the Debenture Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay
(A) all
overdue installments of interest on all of the Debentures,
(B) any
accrued Additional Interest on all of the Debentures,
(C) the
principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Debentures that have become due
otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional
Interest thereon at the rate borne by the Debentures, and
(D) all
sums paid or advanced by the Debenture Trustee under the Indenture and the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Debenture
Trustee and the Institutional Trustee, their agents and counsel;
and
(ii) all
Events of Default with respect to the Debentures, other than the non-payment of
the principal of the Debentures that has become due solely by such acceleration,
have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.7 of the
Indenture.
The
Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities
may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive any past
default under the Indenture or any Indenture Event of Default, except a default
or Indenture Event of Default in the payment of principal or interest (unless
such default or Indenture Event of Default has been cured and a sum sufficient
to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by
acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default under
the Indenture or an Indenture Event of Default in respect of a covenant or
provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the
consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture. No such waiver
shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent
thereon.
Upon
receipt by the Institutional Trustee of written notice declaring such an
acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of any part of the
Capital Securities, a record date shall be established for determining Holders
of outstanding Capital Securities entitled to join in such notice, which record
date shall be at the close of business on the day the Institutional Trustee
receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly
designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such
notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless
such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may
be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having
joined in such notice prior to the day that is 90 days after such record
date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment,
as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder
be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall
prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such
90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or
rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a
written notice that has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding
sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 6.10.
(c) Except
as otherwise provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.10, the
Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities
may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive any past
default or Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver,
any such default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any default or
Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every
purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent
or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent
thereon.
ARTICLE
VII.
DISSOLUTION
AND TERMINATION OF TRUST
Section
7.1. Dissolution
and Termination of Trust.
(a) The
Trust shall dissolve on the first to occur of:
(i)
unless earlier dissolved, on January 15, 2044, the expiration of the term of the
Trust;
(ii)
upon a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture
Issuer;
(iii) (other
than in connection with a merger, consolidation or similar transaction not
prohibited by the Indenture, this Declaration or the Guarantee, as the case may
be) upon (A) the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent with
respect to the Sponsor, and (B)(I) upon the consent of Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single class to file a
certificate of cancellation with respect to the Trust or (II) upon the
revocation of the charter of the Sponsor and the expiration of 90 days
after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof;
(iv) upon
the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of the Securities following
the exercise of the right of the Holder of all of the outstanding Common
Securities to dissolve the Trust as provided in Section 3 of Annex I
hereto;
(v)
upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Holder of the Common
Securities, the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer;
(vi) when
all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption and the amounts
necessary for redemption thereof shall have been paid to the Holders in
accordance with the terms of the Securities; or
(vii) before
the issuance of any Securities, with the consent of all of the Trustees and the
Sponsor.
(b) As
soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section
7.1(a), and after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as
required by applicable law, including of the Statutory Trust Act, and subject to
the terms set forth in Annex I, the Institutional Trustee shall terminate
the Trust by filing a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware.
(c) The
provisions of Section 2.9 and Article IX shall survive the termination
of the Trust.
ARTICLE
VIII.
TRANSFER
OF INTERESTS
Section
8.1. General.
(a) Subject
to Section 8.1(c), where Capital Securities are presented to the Registrar or a
co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an
equal aggregate liquidation amount of Capital Securities represented by
different certificates, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the
exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit
registrations of transfer and exchanges, the Trust shall issue and the
Institutional Trustee shall authenticate Capital Securities at the Registrar’s
request.
(b) Upon
issuance of the Common Securities, the Sponsor shall acquire and retain
beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities and for so long as the
Securities remain outstanding, the Sponsor shall maintain 100% ownership of the
Common Securities; provided, however, that any
permitted successor of the Sponsor, in its capacity as Debenture Issuer, under
the Indenture that is a U.S. Person may succeed to the Sponsor’s ownership of
the Common Securities.
(c) Capital
Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance with the
terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in the terms of the
Capital Securities. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, any transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in accordance
with this Declaration shall be null and void and will be deemed to be of no
legal effect whatsoever and any such transferee shall be deemed not to be the
Holder of such Capital Securities for any purpose, including but not limited to
the receipt of Distributions on such Capital Securities, and such transferee
shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Capital
Securities.
(d) The
Registrar shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of
Securities, which will be effected without charge but only upon payment (with
such indemnity as the Registrar may require) in respect of any tax or other
governmental charges that may be imposed in relation to it. Upon
surrender for registration of transfer of any Securities, the Registrar shall
cause one or more new Securities of the same tenor to be issued in the name of
the designated transferee or transferees. Any Security issued upon
any registration of transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this
Declaration shall evidence the same Security and shall be entitled to the same
benefits under this Declaration as the Security surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange. Every Security surrendered for
registration of transfer shall be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Holder or
such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Security
surrendered for registration of transfer shall be canceled by the Institutional
Trustee pursuant to Section 6.8. A transferee of a Security shall be
entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon
the receipt by such transferee of a Security. By acceptance of a
Security, each transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this
Declaration.
(e) The
Trust shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of, or
exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business
15 days before the day of any selection of Securities for redemption and
ending at the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant
notice of redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the
Securities to be redeemed, or (ii) to register the transfer or exchange of
any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
Section
8.2. Transfer
Procedures and Restrictions.
(a) The
Capital Securities shall bear the Restricted Securities Legend, which shall not
be removed unless there is delivered to the Trust such satisfactory evidence,
which may include an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Institutional
Trustee, as may be reasonably required by the Trust, that neither the legend nor
the restrictions on transfer set forth therein are required to ensure that
transfers thereof comply with the provisions of the Securities
Act. Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, the Institutional
Trustee, at the written direction of the Trust, shall authenticate and deliver
Capital Securities that do not bear the legend.
(b) Except
as permitted by Section 8.2(a), each Capital Security shall bear a legend (the
“Restricted Securities
Legend”) in substantially the following form and a Capital Security shall
not be transferred except in compliance with such legend, unless otherwise
determined by the Sponsor, upon the advice of counsel expert in securities law,
in accordance with applicable law:
THIS
CAPITAL SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH “ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.” FOR
INFORMATION REGARDING THE ISSUE PRICE, THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT,
THE ISSUE DATE AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE CAPITAL SECURITY, PLEASE CONTACT
JOHN M. MARSHALECK, MAIDEN CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST, C/O MAIDEN HOLDINGS NORTH
AMERICA, LTD., 600 MIDLANTIC DRIVE, MOUNT LAUREL, NJ 08054.
[IF THIS
SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY INSERT: THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS A
GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO
AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) OR A
NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR CAPITAL
SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY
IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION, AND NO TRANSFER OF
THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY AS A WHOLE
BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF
DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNLESS
THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO
MAIDEN CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER,
EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CAPITAL SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME
OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON 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 HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES
LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO
OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR
THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED
EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER
REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING
THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR
RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO
A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR
RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS
ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH
AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A
VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION
OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION
FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE
SPONSOR’S AND THE TRUST’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO
REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER
INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION
(DEFINED HEREIN), A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE
TRUST. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE
CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.
THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND
WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR
OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME
SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL
REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY
WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT
IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR
HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS
ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR
ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT
PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO
SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR
ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND
HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE
MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS
APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT
RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF
THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE
EXEMPTION.
THIS
SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A
LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES
OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES
IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED
TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.
THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.
THIS
SECURITY IS IN REGISTERED FORM WITHIN THE MEANING OF TREASURY REGULATIONS
SECTION 1.871-14(c)(1)(i) FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND WITHHOLDING TAX
PURPOSES.
IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND
TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE
DECLARATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.
(c) To
permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trust shall execute and the
Institutional Trustee shall authenticate Capital Securities at the Registrar’s
request.
(d) Registrations
of transfers or exchanges will be effected without charge, but only upon payment
(with such indemnity as the Registrar or the Sponsor may require) in respect of
any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation to
it.
(e) All
Capital Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange pursuant
to the terms of this Declaration shall evidence the same security and shall be
entitled to the same benefits under this Declaration as the Capital Securities
surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Section
8.3. Deemed
Security Holders. The Trust, the Administrators, the Trustees,
the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar may treat the Person in
whose name any Certificate shall be registered on the books and records of the
Trust as the sole holder of such Certificate and of the Securities represented
by such Certificate for purposes of receiving Distributions and for all other
purposes whatsoever and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or other claim to or interest in such Certificate or in the Securities
represented by such Certificate on the part of any Person, whether or not the
Trust, the Administrators, the Trustees, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or
the Registrar shall have actual or other notice thereof
ARTICLE
IX.
LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY OF
HOLDERS
OF SECURITIES, INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE OR OTHERS
Section
9.1. Liability.
(a) Except
as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Guarantee and the terms of the
Securities, the Sponsor shall not be:
(i) personally
liable for the return of any portion of the capital contributions (or any return
thereon) of the Holders of the Securities which shall be made solely from assets
of the Trust; or
(ii) required
to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of the Securities any deficit upon
dissolution of the Trust or otherwise.
(b) The
Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for all of the debts and
obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities) to the
extent not satisfied out of the Trust’s assets.
(c) Pursuant
to the Statutory Trust Act, the Holders of the Capital Securities shall be
entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders
of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware.
Section
9.2. Exculpation.
(a) No
Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or
otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such
Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority
conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that
an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person’s negligence or willful misconduct
with respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An
Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the
records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements
presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person
reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert
competence and, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected by
such Indemnified Person with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Trust,
including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and
amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent
to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of
Securities might properly be paid.
Section
9.3. Fiduciary
Duty.
(a) To
the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has duties
(including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to
any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this Declaration
shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for its good
faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions
of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities
of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by
the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of the
Indemnified Person.
(b) Whenever
in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted or required to make a
decision:
(i)
in its “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority, the Indemnified
Person shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires,
including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any
consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust or any other
Person; or
(ii)
in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the Indemnified Person
shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or
different standard imposed by this Declaration or by applicable
law.
Section
9.4. Indemnification.
(a) The
Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Indemnified
Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the Trust) arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this Declaration by reason of the fact that he is or was an
Indemnified Person against expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and
expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnified
Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was unlawful.
(b) The
Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Indemnified
Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Trust
to procure a judgment in its favor arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance or administration of this Declaration by reason of the fact that he
is or was an Indemnified Person against expenses (including reasonable
attorneys’ fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Trust; provided, however, that no such
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Trust
unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was
brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court
shall deem proper.
(c) To
the extent that an Indemnified Person shall be successful on the merits or
otherwise (including dismissal of an action without prejudice or the settlement
of an action without admission of liability) in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4, or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified, to the
full extent permitted by law, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and
expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
therewith.
(d) Any
indemnification of an Administrator under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 9.4 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Sponsor only
as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of
the Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because he has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (a) and
(b). Such determination shall be made (i) by the Administrators
by a majority vote of a Quorum consisting of such Administrators who were not
parties to such action, suit or proceeding, (ii) if such a Quorum is not
obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a Quorum of disinterested Administrators
so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by
the Common Security Holder of the Trust.
(e) To
the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’
fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending a civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to
in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4 shall be paid by the Sponsor
in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay
such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be
indemnified by the Sponsor as authorized in this Section
9.4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the
Sponsor if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by the
Administrators by a majority vote of a Quorum of disinterested Administrators,
(ii) if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a
Quorum of disinterested Administrators so directs, by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, or (iii) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust,
that, based upon the facts known to the Administrators, counsel or the Common
Security Holder at the time such determination is made, such Indemnified Person
acted in bad faith or in a manner that such Indemnified Person did not believe
to be in the best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal
proceeding, that such Indemnified Person believed or had reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful. In no event shall any advance be
made in instances where the Administrators, independent legal counsel or the
Common Security Holder reasonably determine that such Indemnified Person
deliberately breached his duty to the Trust or its Common or Capital Security
Holders.
(f) The
Trustees, at the sole cost and expense of the Sponsor, retain the right to
representation by counsel of their own choosing in any action, suit or any other
proceeding for which it is indemnified under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 9.4, without affecting their right to indemnification hereunder or
waiving any rights afforded to them under this Declaration or applicable
law.
(g) The
indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to,
the other paragraphs of this Section 9.4 shall not be deemed exclusive of
any other rights to which those seeking indemnification and advancement of
expenses may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors of the Sponsor or Capital Security Holders of the Trust
or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office. All rights to
indemnification under this Section 9.4 shall be deemed to be provided by a
contract between the Sponsor and each Indemnified Person who serves in such
capacity at any time while this Section 9.4 is in effect. Any
repeal or modification of this Section 9.4 shall not affect any rights or
obligations then existing.
(h) The
Sponsor or the Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person
who is or was an Indemnified Person against any liability asserted against him
and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such,
whether or not the Sponsor would have the power to indemnify him against such
liability under the provisions of this Section 9.4.
(i) For
purposes of this Section 9.4, references to “the Trust” shall include, in
addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any constituent entity (including
any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger, so that
any Person who is or was a director, trustee, officer or employee of such
constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent
entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another entity,
shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section
9.4 with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as he would have with
respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had
continued.
(j) The
indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to,
this Section 9.4 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or
ratified, (i) continue as to a Person who has ceased to be an Indemnified
Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators
of such a Person, and (ii) survive the termination or expiration of this
Declaration or the earlier removal or resignation of an Indemnified
Person.
Section
9.5. Outside
Businesses. Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware
Trustee and the Institutional Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in
other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with
others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the Trust and
the Holders of Securities shall have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in
and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and
the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the
Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. None of any Covered
Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee or the Institutional Trustee shall be
obligated to present any particular investment or other opportunity to the Trust
even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Trust,
could be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware
Trustee and the Institutional Trustee shall have the right to take for its own
account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others
any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any Covered
Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee may engage or be
interested in any financial or other transaction with the Sponsor or any
Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or
act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations of
the Sponsor or its Affiliates.
Section
9.6. Compensation;
Fee. The Sponsor agrees:
(a) to
pay to the Trustees from time to time such compensation for all services
rendered by them hereunder as the parties shall agree from time to time (which
compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the
compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and
(b) except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request
for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the
Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Declaration (including the
reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their respective
agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct.
The
provisions of this Section 9.6 shall survive the dissolution of the Trust
and the termination of this Declaration and the removal or resignation of any
Trustee.
No
Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any property of the Trust as a result of
any amount due pursuant to this Section 9.6.
ARTICLE
X.
TAX
AND ACCOUNTING
Section
10.1. Fiscal
Year. The fiscal year (the “Fiscal Year”) of the
Trust shall be the calendar year, or such other year as is required by the
Code.
Section
10.2. Certain
Accounting Matters.
(a) At
all times during the existence of the Trust, the Administrators shall keep, or
cause to be kept at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as
defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-7, full books of
account, records and supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable
detail each transaction of the Trust. The books of account shall be
maintained, at the Sponsor’s expense, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, consistently applied. The books of account and
the records of the Trust shall be examined by and reported upon (either
separately or as part of the Sponsor’s regularly prepared consolidated financial
report) as of the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust by a firm of independent
certified public accountants selected by the Administrators.
(b) The
Administrators shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered to each of the
Holders of Securities all annual United States federal income tax information
statements required by the Code, if any, containing such information with regard
to the Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and the
Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding any right under the Code to
deliver any such statement at a later date, the Administrators shall endeavor to
deliver all such statements within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal
Year of the Trust.
(c) The
Administrators, at the Sponsor’s expense, shall cause to be duly prepared at the
principal office of the Sponsor in the United States, as ‘United States’ is
defined in Section 7701(a)(9) of the Code (or at the principal office of the
Trust if the Sponsor has no such principal office in the United States), and
filed an annual United States federal income tax return on a Form 1041 or
such other form required by United States federal income tax law, if any, and
any other annual income tax returns required to be filed by the Administrators
on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing authority.
Section
10.3. Banking. The
Trust shall maintain in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury
Regulations Section 301.7701-7, one or more bank accounts in the name and for
the sole benefit of the Trust; provided, however, that all
payments of funds in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee
shall be made directly to the Property Account and no other funds of the Trust
shall be deposited in the Property Account. The sole signatories for
such accounts (including the Property Account) shall be designated by the
Institutional Trustee.
Section
10.4. Withholding. The
Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent and the Administrators shall comply
with all withholding requirements under United States federal, state and local
law. The Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent shall request, and
each Holder shall provide to the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent, such
forms or certificates as are necessary to establish an exemption from
withholding with respect to the Holder, and any representations and forms as
shall reasonably be requested by the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent
to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding
obligations. The Administrators shall file required forms with
applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding is properly
established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder
to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the Institutional
Trustee or any Paying Agent is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to
any authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any Holder, the
amount withheld shall be deemed to be a Distribution in the amount of the
withholding to the Holder. In the event of any claimed
overwithholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the applicable
jurisdiction. If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld
from actual Distributions made, the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent
may reduce subsequent Distributions by the amount of such
withholding.
Section
10.5. Intention
of the Parties. It is the intention of the parties hereto that
the Trust be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a
grantor trust. The provisions of this Declaration shall be interpreted to
further this intention of the parties.
ARTICLE
XI.
AMENDMENTS
AND MEETINGS
Section
11.1. Amendments.
(a) Except
as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any applicable terms of the
Securities, this Declaration may only be amended by a written instrument
approved and executed by the Institutional Trustee, or (ii) if the amendment
affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware
Trustee, by the Delaware Trustee.
(b) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Article XI, an amendment may be made, and any
such purported amendment shall be valid and effective only if:
(i)
the Institutional Trustee shall have first received:
(A) an
Officers’ Certificate from each of the Trust and the Sponsor that such amendment
is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the
terms of the Securities); and
(B) an
opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to the Sponsor or the Trust) that such
amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration
(including the terms of the Securities) and all conditions precedent to the
execution and delivery of such amendment have been satisfied;
and
(ii) the
result of such amendment would not be to
(A) cause
the Trust to cease to be classified for purposes of United States federal income
taxation as a grantor trust; or
(B) cause
the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered
under the Investment Company Act.
(c) Except
as provided in Section 11.1(d), (e) or (h), no amendment shall be made, and any
such purported amendment shall be void and ineffective unless the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities shall have consented to
such amendment.
(d) In
addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Declaration, without
the consent of each affected Holder, this Declaration may not be amended to
(i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Securities or
any redemption or liquidation or repurchase provisions applicable to the
Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required
to be made in respect of the Securities as of a specified date (including any
amendment affecting the amount or timing of any payments under the Debentures or
the Indenture), or (ii) restrict the right of a Holder to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date.
(e) Sections
9.1(b) and 9.1(c) and this Section 11.1 shall not be amended without the
consent of all of the Holders of the Securities.
(f) Article III
shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Common Securities.
(g) The
rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities or Common Securities, as
applicable, under Article IV to appoint and remove the Trustees shall not
be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities or Common Securities, as
applicable.
(h) This
Declaration may be amended by the Institutional Trustee and the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities without the consent of
the Holders of the Capital Securities to:
(i) cure
any ambiguity;
(ii) correct
or supplement any provision in this Declaration that may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provision of this Declaration;
(iii) add
to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the Sponsor;
or
(iv) modify,
eliminate or add to any provision of this Declaration to such extent as may be
necessary to ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States federal
income tax purposes at all times as a grantor trust and will not be required to
register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act (including
without limitation to conform to any change in Rule 3a-5, Rule 3a-7 or
any other applicable rule under the Investment Company Act or written change in
interpretation or application thereof by any legislative body, court, government
agency or regulatory authority) which amendment does not have a material adverse
effect on the rights, preferences or privileges of the Holders of
Securities;
provided, however, that no such
modification, elimination or addition referred to in clauses (i), (ii),
(iii) or (iv) shall adversely affect in any material respect the powers,
preferences or special rights of Holders of Capital Securities.
Section
11.2. Meetings
of the Holders of the Securities; Action by Written Consent.
(a) Meetings
of the Holders of the Capital Securities or the Common Securities may be called
at any time by the Administrators (or as provided in the terms of the
Securities) to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such
Securities are entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration or the terms
of the Securities. The Administrators shall call a meeting of the
Holders of such class if directed to do so by the Holders of at least 10% in
liquidation amount of such Securities. Such direction shall be given
by delivering to the Administrators one or more notices in a writing stating
that the signing Holders of such Securities wish to call a meeting and
indicating the general or specific purpose for which the meeting is to be
called. Any Holders of the Securities calling a meeting shall specify
in writing the Certificates held by the Holders of the Securities exercising the
right to call a meeting and only those Securities represented by such
Certificates shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the required
percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph has been
met.
(b) Except
to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the Securities, the following
provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of the Securities:
(i) notice
of any such meeting shall be given to all the Holders of the Securities having a
right to vote thereat at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before
the date of such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent or approval of the
Holders of the Securities is permitted or required under this Declaration, such
vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting of the Holders of the
Securities. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Holders
of the Securities may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting
forth the action so taken is signed by the Holders of the Securities owning not
less than the minimum liquidation amount of Securities that would be necessary
to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Holders of the
Securities having a right to vote thereon were present and
voting. Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall
be given to the Holders of the Securities entitled to vote who have not
consented in writing. The Administrators may specify that any written
ballot submitted to the Holders of the Securities for the purpose of taking any
action without a meeting shall be returned to the Trust within the time
specified by the Administrators;
(ii) each
Holder of a Security may authorize any Person to act for it by proxy on all
matters in which a Holder of Securities is entitled to participate, including
waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. No proxy
shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof
unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be
revocable at the pleasure of the Holder of the Securities executing
it. Except as otherwise provided herein, all matters relating to the
giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial
interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and the
Holders of the Securities were stockholders of a Delaware corporation; each
meeting of the Holders of the Securities shall be conducted by the
Administrators or by such other Person that the Administrators may designate;
and
(iii) unless
the Statutory Trust Act, this Declaration, or the terms of the Securities
otherwise provides, the Administrators, in their sole discretion, shall
establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Holders of Securities,
including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any
matter is to be voted on by any Holders of the Securities, waiver of any such
notice, action by consent without a meeting, the establishment of a record date,
quorum requirements, voting in person or by proxy or any other matter with
respect to the exercise of any such right to vote; provided, however, that each
meeting shall be conducted in the United States (as that term is defined in
Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7).
ARTICLE
XII.
REPRESENTATIONS
OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND THE DELAWARE
TRUSTEE
Section
12.1. Representations
and Warranties of Institutional Trustee. The initial
Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at
the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Institutional Trustee
represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the
Successor Institutional Trustee’s acceptance of its appointment as Institutional
Trustee, that:
(a) the
Institutional Trustee is a banking corporation or national association with
trust powers, duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United
States of America or any state thereof with trust power and authority to execute
and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of,
this Declaration;
(b) the
Institutional Trustee has a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty
million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000);
(c) the
execution, delivery and performance by the Institutional Trustee of this
Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of the Institutional Trustee. This Declaration has been duly
executed and delivered by the Institutional Trustee, and it constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Institutional Trustee, enforceable against
it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(d) the
execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the Institutional
Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws
of the Institutional Trustee; and
(e) no
consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any
state or federal banking authority is required for the execution, delivery or
performance by the Institutional Trustee of this Declaration.
Section
12.2. Representations
of the Delaware Trustee. The Trustee that
acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the
Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Delaware Trustee
represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the
Successor Delaware Trustee’s acceptance of its appointment as Delaware Trustee
that:
(a) if
it is not a natural person, the Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware;
(b) if
it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and performance by the
Delaware Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Delaware Trustee. This
Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee, and
under Delaware law (excluding any securities laws) constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
moratorium, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
(regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law);
(c) if
it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and performance of this
Declaration by the Delaware Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a
breach of the charter or by-laws of the Delaware Trustee;
(d) it
has trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and
perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration;
(e) no
consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any
state or federal banking authority governing the trust powers of the Delaware
Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Delaware
Trustee of this Declaration; and
(f) the
Delaware Trustee is a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware
or, if not a natural person, it is an entity which has its principal place of
business in the State of Delaware and, in either case, a Person that satisfies
for the Trust the requirements of Section 3807 of the Statutory Trust
Act.
ARTICLE
XIII.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
13.1. Notices. All
notices provided for in this Declaration shall be in writing, duly signed by the
party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied (which telecopy
shall be followed by notice delivered or mailed by first class mail) or mailed
by first class mail, as follows:
(a) if
given to the Trust in care of the Administrators at the Trust’s mailing address
set forth below (or such other address as the Trust may give notice of to the
Holders of the Securities):
Maiden
Capital Financing Trust
c/o
Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd.
6000
Midlantic Drive
Mount
Laurel, NJ 08054
Attention:
John M. Marshaleck
Telecopy: (856)
437-1111
(b) if
given to the Delaware Trustee, at the Delaware Trustee’s mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Delaware Trustee may give notice of to
the Holders of the Securities):
Wilmington
Trust Company
1100
North Market Street
Wilmington,
Delaware 19890-1600
Attention: Corporate
Trust Administration
Telecopy: 302-636-4140
(c) if
given to the Institutional Trustee, at the Institutional Trustee’s mailing
address set forth below (or such other address as the Institutional Trustee may
give notice of to the Holders of the Securities):
Wilmington
Trust Company
1100
North Market Street
Wilmington,
Delaware 19890-1600
Attention: Corporate
Trust Administration
Telecopy: 302-636-4140
(d) if
given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing address of the
Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the Holder of the Common
Securities may give notice of to the Trust):
Maiden
Holdings North America, Ltd.
6000
Midlantic Drive
Mount
Laurel, NJ 08054
Attention:
John M. Marshaleck
Telecopy:
(856) 437-1111
(e) if
given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of
the Trust.
All such
notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied
with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except
that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered
because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other
document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or
inability to deliver.
Section
13.2. Governing
Law. This Declaration and the rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the
law of the State of Delaware and all rights and remedies shall be governed by
such laws without regard to the principles of conflict of laws of the State of
Delaware or any other jurisdiction that would call for the application of the
law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware; provided, however, that there
shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Declaration any
provision of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware pertaining
to trusts that relate to or regulate, in a manner inconsistent with the terms
hereof (a) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of
trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (b) affirmative
requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or employees of a
trust, (c) the necessity for obtaining court or other governmental approval
concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property,
(d) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents or employees
of a trust, (e) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or
principal, or (f) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature,
amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the
titling, storage or other manner of holding or investing trust
assets.
Section
13.3. Intention
of the Parties. It is the intention of the parties hereto that
the Trust be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a
grantor trust. The provisions of this Declaration shall be interpreted to
further this intention of the parties.
Section
13.4. Headings. Headings
contained in this Declaration are inserted for convenience of reference only and
do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any provision
hereof.
Section
13.5. Successors
and Assigns. Whenever in this Declaration any of the parties
hereto is named or referred to, the successors and assigns of such party shall
be deemed to be included, and all covenants and agreements in this Declaration
by the Sponsor and the Trustees shall bind and inure to the benefit of their
respective successors and assigns, whether or not so expressed.
Section
13.6. Partial
Enforceability. If any provision of this Declaration, or the
application of such provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held
invalid, the remainder of this Declaration, or the application of such provision
to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall
not be affected thereby.
Section
13.7. Information. For
so long as the Capital Securities are not eligible for resale without
restriction under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Sponsor and the Trust
will, during any period in which such information is not available through the
periodic filings of the Parent with the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon
written request of a Holder of Capital Securities provide to such Holder and to
each prospective purchaser (as designated by such Holder), any information
required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities
Act.
Section
13.8. Counterparts. This
Declaration may contain more than one counterpart of the signature page and this
Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of each of the
Trustees and Administrators to any of such counterpart signature
pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as
though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the
signers had signed a single signature page.
Signatures
appear on the following page
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused these presents to be executed as of
the day and year first above written.
|
as
Institutional Trustee
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Christopher J.
Slaybaugh |
|
Name:
Christopher J.
Slaybaugh
|
|
Title:
Assistant Vice
President
|
|
|
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY
|
as
Delaware Trustee
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Christopher J.
Slaybaugh |
|
Name:
Christopher J.
Slaybaugh
|
|
Title:
Assistant Vice
President
|
|
|
MAIDEN HOLDINGS NORTH AMERICA,
Ltd., as Sponsor
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Arturo M.
Raschbaum |
|
Name:
Arturo M.
Raschbaum
|
|
Title:
Chief Executive
Officer
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Arturo M. Raschbaum |
|
Arturo
M. Raschbaum, Administrator
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ John M. Marshaleck |
|
John
M. Marshaleck, Administrator
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Karen L. Schmitt |
|
Karen
L. Schmitt,
Administrator
|
ANNEX
I
TERMS OF
SECURITIES
Pursuant
to Section 6.1 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of
January 20, 2009 (as amended from time to time, the “Declaration”), the
designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities are set out below
(each capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in
the Declaration):
1. Designation and
Number.
(a) 260,000
Fixed Rate Capital Securities of Maiden Capital Financing Trust (the “Trust”), with an
aggregate stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of
Two Hundred Sixty Million Dollars ($260,000,000) and a stated liquidation amount
with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, are
hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as the “Capital
Securities”. The Capital Security Certificates evidencing the
Capital Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the
Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as
may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice.
(b) 8,050
Fixed Rate Common Securities of the Trust (the “Common Securities”)
will be evidenced by Common Security Certificates substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-2 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or
deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or
practice.
2. Distributions.
(a) Distributions
will be payable on each Security for the period beginning on (and including) the
date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Maturity Date at a
rate per annum of the Distribution Rate, such rate being the rate of interest
payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional
Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more than one quarterly period
will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the
extent permitted by law). Distributions, as used herein, include cash
distributions, any such compounded distributions and any Additional Sums payable
on the Debentures unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable
only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by
the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds
available therefor. The amount of the Distribution payable will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, it being
understood that if a Distribution is payable on a non Business Day, and the
Distribution Payment Date is on the next succeeding Business Day, no additional
interest or other Distributions shall accrue in respect of any such
delay. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital
Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth
of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded
upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655),
and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be
rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded
upward)).
“Distribution Rate”
means the rate per annum of 14%.
“Maturity Date” means
January 15, 2039.
(b) Distributions
on the Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original
issuance, and will be payable, subject to extension of distribution payment
periods as described herein, quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July
15 and October 15, of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the
next succeeding Business Day (each a “Distribution Payment
Date”), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in April 2009 when,
as and if available for payment. The Debenture Issuer has the right
under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as
no Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by deferring the
payment of interest on the Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods
(each an “Extension
Period”) at any time and from time to time, subject to the conditions
described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and
payable. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to
accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at
an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension
Period, compounded quarterly (from the date such interest would have been
payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law
(such interest referred to herein as “Additional Interest”)
during any Extension Period. No Extension Period may end on a date
other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such
Extension Period the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and
unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no
Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date and provided further, however, that during
any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall not, and shall not permit
any Affiliate of the Debenture Issuer controlled by the Debenture Issuer
(including, without limitation, any entity issuing Trust Preferred Securities)
to, (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or repay,
repurchase, redeem, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any
of the Debenture Issuer’s or such Affiliates’ common stock or preferred stock
(including, without limitation, Trust Preferred Securities) (other
than payments of dividends or distributions to the Debenture Issuer or a
Subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer) or make any guarantee payments with respect
to the foregoing, or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or
premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the
Debenture Issuer or any Affiliate of the Debenture Issuer controlled by the
Debenture Issuer that rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures or (iii) enter into, amend
or modify any contract with a shareholder holding more than 10% of the
outstanding shares of common stock of the Sponsor that could require cash
payments by the Sponsor to such shareholder (other than, with respect to
clauses (i) and (ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or other
acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Debenture Issuer or any
Subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer in connection with any employment contract,
benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more
employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend
reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the
issuance of capital stock of the Debenture Issuer or of such Subsidiary (or
securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as
consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable
Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any
class or series of the Debenture Issuer’s capital stock (or any capital stock of
a Subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer) for any class or series of the Debenture
Issuer’s capital stock (or in the case of a Subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer,
any class or series of such Subsidiary’s capital stock) or of any class or
series of the Debenture Issuer’s indebtedness for any class or series of the
Debenture Issuer’s capital stock (or in the case of indebtedness of a Subsidiary
of the Debenture Issuer, of any class or series of such Subsidiary’s
indebtedness for any class or series of such Subsidiary’s capital stock),
(c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Debenture
Issuer’s capital stock (or the capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Sponsor)
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock
or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of
stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock
issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same
stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to
such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in
connection therewith, or (f) payments under the Guarantee; and other than,
with respect to clause (iii) above, (A) any reinsurance or other risk
transfer, producer, intermediary, claims management, underwriting, investment
management, administrative or services agreement between (I) an insurance
company Affiliate of the Debenture Issuer and (II) the Parent or one of its
subsidiaries that is not a subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer (a "Maiden BDA Company"),
so long as such agreement has been approved or is permitted as an agreement with
an affiliate by the governmental authority that regulates insurance companies in
the jurisdiction in which such insurance company subsidiary of the Debenture
Issuer is domiciled or the laws of such domiciliary jurisdiction, or (B) any
producer, intermediary, claims management, underwriting, investment management,
administrative or services agreement between (I) the Debenture Issuer or
one of its non-insurance company Affiliates and (II) a Maiden BDA Company,
so long as such agreement is on terms no less favorable to the Debenture Issuer
or its non-insurance company Affiliate than arm’s-length
terms). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the
Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period
together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall
not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity
Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the
payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the
Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing
requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and
payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each
installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during
such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any
Extension Period, Distributions on the Securities shall be deferred for a period
equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the
Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period
terminates, to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records
of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such
date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates
payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the
Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property
Account of the Trust. The Trust’s funds available for Distribution to
the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the
Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by
the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee and by the
Parent pursuant to the Parent Guarantee.
(c) Distributions
on the Securities will be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the
books and records of the Trust on the relevant record dates. The
relevant record dates shall be 15 days before the relevant Distribution Payment
Date. Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually
paid on any Distribution Payment Date, as a result of the Debenture Issuer
having failed to make a payment under the Debentures, as the case may be, when
due (taking into account any Extension Period), will cease to be payable to the
Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the relevant record date,
and such defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose
name such Securities are registered on the special record date or other
specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture.
(d) In
the event that there is any money or other property held by or for the Trust
that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be distributed Pro Rata
(as defined herein) among the Holders of the Securities.
3. Liquidation Distribution
Upon Dissolution. In the event of the voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (each a “Liquidation”) other
than in connection with a redemption of the Debentures, the Holders of the
Securities will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available
for distribution to Holders of the Securities, after satisfaction of liabilities
to creditors of the Trust (to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer),
distributions equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate of the stated liquidation
amount of $1,000.00 per Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon
to the date of payment, to the extent the Trust shall have funds available
therefor, and (ii) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for
contributions to Holders in liquidation of the Trust (such amount being, the
“Liquidation
Distribution”), unless in connection with such Liquidation, the
Debentures in an aggregate stated principal amount equal to the aggregate stated
liquidation amount of such Securities, with an interest rate equal to the
Distribution Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal
to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on, and having the same record date as,
such Securities, after paying or making reasonable provision to pay all claims
and obligations of the Trust in accordance with the Statutory Trust Act, shall
be distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange
for such Securities.
The
Sponsor, as the Holder of all of the Common Securities, has the right at any
time to dissolve the Trust (including, without limitation, upon the occurrence
of a Special Event) and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the
Trust, cause the Debentures to be distributed to the Holders of the Securities
on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with the aggregate stated liquidation amount
thereof.
If a
Liquidation of the Trust occurs as described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or
(v) in Section 7.1(a) of the Declaration, the Trust shall be liquidated by the
Institutional Trustee as expeditiously as it determines to be possible by
distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, to
the Holders of the Securities, the Debentures on a Pro Rata basis to the extent
not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, unless such distribution is determined by
the Institutional Trustee not to be practical, in which event such Holders will
be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution
to the Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities of creditors of the Trust to
the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, an amount equal to the
Liquidation Distribution. An early Liquidation of the Trust pursuant
to clause (iv) of Section 7.1(a) of the Declaration shall occur if the
Institutional Trustee determines that such Liquidation is possible by
distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, to
the Holders of the Securities on a Pro Rata basis, the Debentures, and such
distribution occurs.
If, upon
any such Liquidation the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part
because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate
Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on such
Capital Securities shall be paid to the Holders of the Securities on a Pro Rata
basis, except that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Capital Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities with
regard to such distributions.
After the
date for any distribution of the Debentures upon dissolution of the Trust
(i) the Securities of the Trust will be deemed to be no longer outstanding,
(ii) upon surrender of a Holder’s Securities certificate, such Holder of
the Securities will receive a certificate representing the Debentures to be
delivered upon such distribution, (iii) any certificates representing the
Securities still outstanding will be deemed to represent undivided beneficial
interests in such of the Debentures as have an aggregate principal amount equal
to the aggregate stated liquidation amount with an interest rate identical to
the Distribution Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest equal to
accrued and unpaid distributions on, the Securities until such certificates are
presented to the Debenture Issuer or its agent for transfer or reissuance (and
until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal
shall be made to Holders of Securities in respect of any payments due and
payable under the Debentures; provided, however that such
failure to pay shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default and shall not
entitle the Holder to the benefits of the Guarantee or the Parent Guarantee),
and (iv) all rights of Holders of Securities under the Declaration shall
cease, except the right of such Holders to receive Debentures upon surrender of
certificates representing such Securities.
4. Redemption and
Distribution.
(a) The
Debentures will mature on January 15, 2039. The Debentures may be redeemed by
the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part on any Distribution Payment Date, at
the Optional Redemption Price. In addition, the Debentures may be
redeemed by the Debenture Issuer at the Special Redemption Price, in whole but
not in part, at any Distribution Payment Date, upon the occurrence and
continuation of a Special Event within 120 days following the occurrence of
such Special Event at the Special Redemption Price, upon not less than
30 nor more than 60 days’ notice to holders of such Debentures so long
as such Special Event is continuing. All certificates,
communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions
given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions
relating to the payment and calculation of the Special Redemption Price on the
Debentures or the Capital Securities by the Debenture Trustee or the
Institutional Trustee, as the case may be, shall (in the absence of willful
default, bad faith or manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the
holders of the Debentures and the Capital Securities, the Trust and the Sponsor,
and no liability shall attach (except as provided above) to the Debenture
Trustee or the Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or
non-exercise by any of them of their respective powers, duties and
discretion.
“Investment Company
Event” means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and the Trust of an
opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result
of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including
any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or
regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within
90 days of the date of such opinion, will be considered an Investment Company
that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act which change
or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case
may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Debentures.
“Maturity Date” means
January 15, 2039.
“Optional Redemption
Date” shall mean the date fixed for the redemption of Capital Securities,
which shall be any Distribution Payment Date.
“Optional Redemption
Price” means means (a) if the Optional Redemption Date is before the
Interest Payment Date in January, 2014, 114% of the principal amount of the
Debentures, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on
the Debentures to the Optional Redemption Date, or (b) if the Optional
Redemption Date is on or after the Interest Payment Date in January, 2014, 100%
of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and
unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the
Optional Redemption Date.
“Special Event” means
a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event.
“Special Redemption
Date” means a date on which a Special Event redemption occurs, which
shall be any Distribution Payment Date.
“Special Redemption
Price” means (a) if the Special Event is before the Interest Payment
Date in January, 2014, 114% of the principal amount of the Debentures, plus
accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on the Debentures to
the Special Redemption Date, or (b) if the Special Event is on or after the
Interest Payment Date in January, 2014, 100% of the principal amount of the
Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any
Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption
Date.
“Tax Event” means the
receipt by the Debenture Issuer and the Trust of an opinion of counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to
or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any
regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or
taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official
administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical
advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice or
announcement including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such
procedures or regulations (an “Administrative
Action”)) or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or
regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial
decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Debenture
Issuer or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which
amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted,
promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance
of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the
Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to
United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on
the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Debenture Issuer on the
Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be,
deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, for United States
federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90
days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of
other taxes (excluding withholding taxes), duties or other governmental
charges.
(b) Upon
the repayment in full at maturity or redemption in whole or in part of the
Debentures (other than following the distribution of the Debentures to the
Holders of the Securities), the proceeds from such repayment or payment shall
concurrently be applied to redeem Pro Rata at the applicable Optional Redemption
Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, Securities having an aggregate
liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures so
repaid or redeemed; provided, however, that holders
of such Securities shall be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice
of such redemption (other than at the scheduled maturity of the
Debentures).
(c) If
fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed, the Common
Securities and the Capital Securities will be redeemed Pro Rata and the Capital
Securities to be redeemed will be redeemed Pro Rata from each Holder of Capital
Securities.
(d) The
Trust may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding Capital Securities unless
all accrued and unpaid Distributions have been paid on all Capital Securities
for all quarterly Distribution periods terminating on or before the date of
redemption.
(e) Redemption or Distribution
Procedures.
(i) Notice
of any redemption of or notice of distribution of the Debentures in exchange
for, the Securities (a “Redemption/Distribution
Notice”) will be given by the Trust by mail to each Holder of Securities
to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days before the
date fixed for redemption or exchange thereof which, in the case of a
redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of the Debentures. For
purposes of the calculation of the date of redemption or exchange and the dates
on which notices are given pursuant to this paragraph 4(e)(i), a
Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such
notice is first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders of such
Securities. Each Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the
Holders of such Securities at the address of each such Holder appearing on the
books and records of the Trust. No defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice
or in the mailing thereof with respect to any Holder shall affect the validity
of the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect to any other
Holder.
(ii) If
the Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a Redemption/ Distribution
Notice, which notice may only be issued if the Debentures are redeemed as set
out in this paragraph 4 (which notice will be irrevocable), then, provided that the
Institutional Trustee has a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the
related redemption or maturity of the Debentures, the Institutional Trustee
will, with respect to Book Entry Capital Securities, irrevocably deposit with
the Depositary for such Book Entry Capital Securities, to the extent available
therefor, funds sufficient to pay the relevant Optional Redemption Price or
Special Redemption Price and will give such Depositary irrevocable instructions
and authority to pay such Optional Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price,
as applicable, to the Owners of the Capital Securities and with respect to
Capital Securities that are not Book Entry Capital Securities, the Institutional
Trustee will pay, to the extent available therefor, the relevant Optional
Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, to the Holders of
such Securities by check mailed to the address of each such Holder appearing on
the books and records of the Trust on the Optional Redemption Date or Special
Redemption Date. All distributions of the Optional Redemption Price
upon the redemption of less than all of the Capital Securities shall be
distributed to the Holders of the Capital Securities pro rata. If a
Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been given and funds deposited as
required then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such
deposit Distributions will cease to accrue on the Securities so called for
redemption and all rights of Holders of such Securities so called for redemption
will cease, except the right of the Holders of such Securities to receive the
applicable Optional Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price specified in
paragraph 4(a), but without interest on such Optional Redemption Price or
Special Redemption Price. If any date fixed for redemption of
Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of any such Optional Redemption
Price or Special Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day. If payment of the Optional
Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price in respect of any Securities is
improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the
Debenture Issuer as guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee or by the Parent as
guarantor pursuant to the Parent Guarantee, Distributions on such Securities
will continue to accrue at the Distribution Rate from the original Optional
Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date to the actual date of payment, in
which case the actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for
redemption for purposes of calculating the Optional Redemption Price or Special
Redemption Price. In the event of any redemption of the Capital
Securities issued by the Trust in part, the Trust shall not be required to
(i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security during a
period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection for
redemption of the Capital Securities and ending at the close of business on the
earliest date on which the relevant notice of redemption is deemed to have been
given to all Holders of the Capital Securities to be so redeemed, or
(ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Capital Securities so
selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except for the unredeemed portion
of any Capital Securities being redeemed in part.
(iii) Redemption/Distribution
Notices shall be sent by the Administrators on behalf of the Trust to
(A) in respect of the Capital Securities, the Holders thereof and
(B) in respect of the Common Securities, the Holder thereof.
(iv) Subject
to paragraph 2(b) hereof and applicable law (including, without limitation,
United States federal securities laws), and provided that the acquiror is not
the Holder of the Common Securities or the obligor under the Indenture or a
subsidiary of such Person, the Sponsor or any of its subsidiaries may at any
time and from time to time purchase outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in
the open market or by private agreement.
(f) Right to Require Purchase of
Capital Securities and Redemption of Debentures.
(i) If
a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture) occurs, a Holder of Capital
Securities will have the right, at its option, to require the Trust to direct
the Debenture Issuer to purchase a portion of the Principal Amount of the
Debentures in an amount equal to all or a portion of the stated liquidation
amount of such Holder’s Capital Securities, at a price, as of the date of the
occurrence of the Change of Control, equal to the Optional Redemption Price of
the Debentures to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any
Additional Interest), to but not including the Change of Control Purchase Date
(as defined below) (the “Change of Control Purchase Price”), before the date
that is 45 days after the date of the Issuer’s Change of Control Notice (the
“Change of Control Purchase Date”), subject to satisfaction by or on behalf of
the Holder of the requirements set forth in Section 4(f)(iii).
At least
five Business Days before the Change of Control Notice Date (as defined below),
unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor
shall deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Institutional Trustee specifying
the information required by Section 4(f)(ii).
(ii) No
later than 15 days after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Sponsor
shall mail a written notice (the “Change of Control Notice”) of the Change of
Control (the date of such mailing, the “Change of Control Notice Date”) by
first-class mail to the Debenture Trustee, to the Institutional Trustee and to
each Holder of Capital Securities (and to beneficial owners as required by
applicable law). The notice shall include a form of Change of Control
Purchase Notice to be completed by the Holder and shall state:
(A) briefly,
the nature of the Change of Control and the date of such Change of Control and
the repurchase right arising as a result of the Change of Control;
(B) the
date by which the Change of Control Purchase Notice pursuant to this Section
4(f) must be given;
(C) the
Change of Control Purchase Date;
(D) the
Change of Control Purchase Price;
(E) the
name and address of the Paying Agent;
(F) that
the Capital Securities must be surrendered to the Paying Agent together with a
Change of Control Purchase Notice to collect payment;
(G) that
the Change of Control Purchase Price for any Capital Securities as to which a
Change of Control Purchase Notice (as defined below) has been duly given will be
paid promptly following the later of the Change of Control Purchase Date and the
time of surrender of such Capital Security as described in (F);
(H) briefly,
the procedures the Holder must follow to exercise rights under this Section 4(f)
and the procedures for withdrawing such exercise of rights;
(I) that,
unless the Debenture Issuer defaults in making payment of such Change of Control
Purchase Price, interest, if any, on Capital Securities surrendered for purchase
and on a corresponding principal amount of Debentures will cease to accrue on
and after the Change of Control Purchase Date and the only remaining right of
the Holders of such Capital Securities is to receive payment of the Purchase
Price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Capital Securities purchased;
and
(J) the
CUSIP number(s) of the Capital Securities.
(iii) A
Holder may exercise its rights specified in Section 4(f)(i) upon delivery of a
written notice of purchase in substantially the form on the reverse of the
Capital Security (a “Change of Control Purchase Notice”) to the Paying Agent at
any time on or prior to the Change of Control Purchase Date,
stating:
(A) the
certificate number, if applicable, of the Capital Security which the Holder will
deliver to be purchased or the appropriate Depositary procedure if certificated
Securities have not been issued;
(B) the
number of Capital Securities which the Holder will deliver to be purchased,
which must be an integral number thereof; and
(C) that
such Capital Security shall be purchased pursuant to the terms and conditions
specified in Section 10.5 of the Indenture, Section 4(f) of Annex I to the Trust
Agreement and the Capital Securities and Debentures.
(iv) If
certificated, the delivery of such Capital Security to the Paying Agent with the
Change of Control Purchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements) at
the offices of the Paying Agent shall be a condition to the receipt by the
Holder of the Change of Control Purchase Price therefor; provided, however, that
such Change of Control Purchase Price shall be so paid pursuant to this Section
4(f) only if the Capital Security so delivered to the Paying Agent shall conform
in all material respects to the description thereof set forth in the related
Change of Control Purchase Notice.
(v) A
Holder may withdraw any Change of Control Purchase Notice by delivering a
written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent prior to the close of business
on the day prior to the Change of Control Purchase Date. The
withdrawal notice must state:
(A) the
liquidation amount of the withdrawn Capital Securities;
(B) if
certificated Securities have been issued, the certificate numbers of the
withdrawn Capital Securities (or, if the Capital Securities are not
certificated, the withdrawal notice must comply with appropriate DTC
procedures); and
(C) the
liquidation amount, if any, which remains subject to the Change of Control
Purchase Notice.
(vi) The
Trustee shall direct the Debenture Issuer to purchase from the Trust a principal
amount of Debentures equal to the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities
designated for purchase in the Change of Control Purchase Notice, and the Trust
shall deliver to the Holder the Change of Control Purchase Price in exchange for
such Capital Securities so designated in the Change of Control Purchase Notice,
provided that the liquidation amount of such Capital Securities so designated is
$1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess
thereof. Provisions of this Section 4(f) that apply to the purchase
of all of a Capital Security also apply to the purchase of such portion of such
Capital Security.
(vii) Any
purchase by the Debenture Issuer contemplated pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 4(f) shall be consummated by the delivery of the consideration to be
received by the Holder on the Change of Control Purchase Date.
5. Voting Rights - Capital
Securities.
(a) Except
as provided under paragraphs 5(b) and 7 and as otherwise required by law
and the Declaration, the Holders of the Capital Securities will have no voting
rights. The Administrators are required to call a meeting of the Holders of the
Capital Securities if directed to do so by Holders of at least 10% in
liquidation amount of the Capital Securities.
(b) Subject
to the requirements of obtaining a tax opinion by the Institutional Trustee in
certain circumstances set forth in the last sentence of this paragraph, the
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, voting
separately as a class, have the right to direct the time, method, and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee,
or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under
the Declaration, including the right to direct the Institutional Trustee, as
holder of the Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies available under the
Indenture as the holder of the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that
is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or
annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and
payable, or (iv) consent on behalf of all the Holders of the Capital
Securities to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the
Debentures where such consent shall be required; provided, however, that, where
a consent or action under the Indenture would require the consent or act of the
holders of greater than a simple majority in aggregate principal amount of
Debentures (a “Super
Majority”) affected thereby, the Institutional Trustee may only give such
consent or take such action at the written direction of the Holders of at least
the proportion in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities outstanding which
the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures outstanding. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights
under the Debentures after the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of
such Capital Securities have so directed the Institutional Trustee, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, a Holder of the Capital Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer to enforce
the Institutional Trustee’s rights under the Debentures without first
instituting any legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other
person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the
Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date the
interest or principal is payable (or in the case of redemption, the Optional
Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable), then a Holder of
record of the Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for
enforcement of payment on or after the respective due dates specified in the
Debentures, to such Holder directly of the principal of or interest on the
Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder. The Institutional
Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Capital Securities of any default
actually known to the Institutional Trustee with respect to the Debentures
unless (x) such default has been cured prior to the giving of such notice,
or (y) the Institutional Trustee determines in good faith that the
withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of such Capital
Securities, except where the default relates to the payment of principal of or
interest on any of the Debentures. Such notice shall state that such Indenture
Event of Default also constitutes an Event of Default hereunder. Except with
respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting a proceeding for a
remedy, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any of the actions described in
clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above unless the Institutional Trustee has
obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such
action, the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes.
In the
event the consent of the Institutional Trustee, as the holder of the Debentures
is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment, modification or
termination of the Indenture, the Institutional Trustee shall request the
direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to such amendment,
modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such amendment,
modification or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation amount of
the Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however, that where a
consent under the Indenture would require the consent of a Super-Majority, the
Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the direction of the Holders
of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities outstanding
which the relevant Super-Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount
of the Debentures outstanding. The Institutional Trustee shall not take any such
action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the Securities unless
the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect
that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not be classified as other than
a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
A waiver
of an Indenture Event of Default will constitute a waiver of the corresponding
Event of Default hereunder. Any required approval or direction of Holders of the
Capital Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of the Capital
Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of the
Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Institutional
Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of the Capital
Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written
consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of record of
the Capital Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth
the following information (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which
such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed
for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of
such matter upon which written consent is sought, and (iii) instructions
for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the Holders of
the Capital Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel
Capital Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the
Declaration and the terms of the Securities.
Notwithstanding
that Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any
of the circumstances described above, any of the Capital Securities that are
owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor shall not entitle the
Holder thereof to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or
consent, be treated as if such Capital Securities were not
outstanding.
In no
event will Holders of the Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint,
remove or replace the Administrators, which voting rights are vested exclusively
in the Sponsor as the Holder of all of the Common Securities of the
Trust. Under certain circumstances as more fully described in the
Declaration, Holders of Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint,
remove or replace the Institutional Trustee and the Delaware
Trustee.
6. Voting Rights - Common
Securities.
(a) Except
as provided under paragraphs 6(b), 6(c) and 7 and as otherwise required by
law and the Declaration, the Common Securities will have no voting
rights.
(b) The
Holders of the Common Securities are entitled, in accordance with
Article IV of the Declaration, to vote to appoint, remove or replace any
Administrators.
(c) Subject
to Section 6.9 of the Declaration and only after each Event of Default (if any)
with respect to the Capital Securities has been cured, waived, or otherwise
eliminated and subject to the requirements of the second to last sentence of
this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common
Securities, voting separately as a class, may direct the time, method, and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional
Trustee under the Declaration, including (i) directing the time, method,
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debenture Trustee
with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waiving any past default and its
consequences that is waivable under the Indenture, or (iii) exercising any
right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures
shall be due and payable; provided, however, that, where
a consent or action under the Indenture would require a Super Majority, the
Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the
written direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation
amount of the Common Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of
the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. Notwithstanding
this paragraph 6(c), the Institutional Trustee shall not revoke any action
previously authorized or approved by a vote or consent of the Holders of the
Capital Securities. Other than with respect to directing the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional
Trustee or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Institutional Trustee
shall not take any action described in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, unless the
Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that
for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be
classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action. If the
Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Declaration to the
fullest extent permitted by law, any Holder of the Common Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against any Person to enforce the
Institutional Trustee’s rights under the Declaration, without first instituting
a legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other
Person.
Any
approval or direction of Holders of the Common Securities may be given at a
separate meeting of Holders of the Common Securities convened for such purpose,
at a meeting of all of the Holders of the Securities in the Trust or pursuant to
written consent. The Administrators will cause a notice of any
meeting at which Holders of the Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of
any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken,
to be mailed to each Holder of the Common Securities. Each such notice will
include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date
by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution
proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote
or of such matter upon which written consent is sought, and
(iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents.
No vote
or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be required for the
Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute the Debentures in
accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities.
7. Amendments to Declaration
and Indenture.
(a) In
addition to any requirements under Section 11.1 of the Declaration, if any
proposed amendment to the Declaration provides for, or the Trustees, Sponsor or
Administrators otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would
adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Securities,
whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or otherwise, or (ii) the
Liquidation of the Trust, other than as described in Section 7.1 of the
Declaration, then the Holders of outstanding Securities, voting together as a
single class, will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such
amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the
Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities, affected
thereby; provided, however, if any
amendment or proposal referred to in clause (i) above would adversely
affect only the Capital Securities or only the Common Securities, then only the
affected Securities will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and
such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of a
Majority in liquidation amount of such class of Securities.
(b) In
the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee as the holder of the
Debentures is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures, the
Institutional Trustee shall request the written direction of the Holders of the
Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall
vote with respect to such amendment, modification, or termination as directed by
a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single
class; provided, however, that where a
consent under the Indenture would require a Super Majority, the Institutional
Trustee may only give such consent at the direction of the Holders of at least
the proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities which the relevant Super
Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
outstanding.
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made to the Declaration if
such amendment or modification would (i) cause the Trust to be classified
for purposes of United States federal income taxation as other than a grantor
trust, (ii) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the
Institutional Trustee, or (iii) cause the Trust to be deemed an Investment
Company which is required to be registered under the Investment Company
Act.
(d) Notwithstanding
any provision of the Declaration, the right of any Holder of the Capital
Securities to receive payment of Distributions and other payments upon
redemption, liquidation or otherwise, on or after their respective due dates, or
to institute a suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such
respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such
Holder. For the protection and enforcement of the foregoing provision, each and
every Holder of the Capital Securities shall be entitled to such relief as can
be given either at law or equity.
8. Pro
Rata. A reference in these terms of the Securities to any
payment, distribution or treatment as being “Pro Rata” shall mean
pro rata to each Holder of the Securities according to the aggregate liquidation
amount of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in relation to the
aggregate liquidation amount of all Securities then outstanding unless, in
relation to a payment, an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in
which case any funds available to make such payment shall be paid first to each
Holder of the Capital Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the
aggregate liquidation amount of all Capital Securities outstanding, and only
after satisfaction of all amounts owed to the Holders of the Capital Securities,
to each Holder of the Common Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate
liquidation amount of the Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative
to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Common Securities
outstanding.
9. Ranking. The
Capital Securities rank pari
passu with and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with the Common
Securities except that, where an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to receive payment of
Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are
subordinated to the rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities with the
result that no payment of any Distribution on, or Optional Redemption Price (or
Special Redemption Price) of, any Common Security, and no other payment on
account of redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities,
shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid
Distributions on all outstanding Capital Securities for all distribution periods
terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Optional
Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) the full amount of such Optional
Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) on all outstanding Capital
Securities then called for redemption, shall have been made or provided for, and
all funds immediately available to the Institutional Trustee shall first be
applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or the Optional
Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) of, the Capital Securities then
due and payable.
10. Acceptance of Guarantees and
Indenture. Each Holder of the Capital Securities and the Common
Securities, by the acceptance of such Securities, agrees to the provisions of
the Guarantee, the Parent Guarantee and the Indenture, including the
subordination provisions therein.
11. No Preemptive Rights.
The Holders of the Securities shall have no, and the issuance of the Securities
is not subject to, preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for any additional
securities.
12. Miscellaneous. These
terms constitute a part of the Declaration. The Sponsor will provide a copy of
the Declaration, the Guarantee, the Parent Guarantee and the Indenture to a
Holder without charge on written request to the Sponsor at its principal place
of business.
EXHIBIT
A-1
FORM
OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE
[FORM OF
FACE OF SECURITY]
THIS
CAPITAL SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH “ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.” FOR
INFORMATION REGARDING THE ISSUE PRICE, THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT,
THE ISSUE DATE AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE CAPITAL SECURITY, PLEASE CONTACT
JOHN M. MARSHALECK, MAIDEN CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST, C/O MAIDEN HOLDINGS NORTH
AMERICA, LTD., 600 MIDLANTIC DRIVE, MOUNT LAUREL, NJ 08054.
[IF THIS
SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY INSERT: THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS A
GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO
AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) OR A
NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR
SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY
IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION, AND NO TRANSFER OF
THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY AS A WHOLE
BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF
DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNLESS
THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO
MAIDEN CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER,
EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CAPITAL SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME
OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON 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 HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES
LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO
OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR
THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED
EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER
REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING
THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR
RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO
A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR
RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS
ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH
AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A
VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION
OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION
FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE
SPONSOR’S AND THE TRUST’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO
REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER
INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION
(DEFINED HEREIN), A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE
TRUST. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE
CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.
THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND
WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR
OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME
SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL
REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY
WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT
IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR
HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS
ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR
ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT
PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO
SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES
OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND
HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE
MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS
APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT
RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF
THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE
EXEMPTION.
THIS
SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A
LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES
OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES
IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED
TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.
THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.
THIS
SECURITY IS IN REGISTERED FORM WITHIN THE MEANING OF TREASURY REGULATIONS
SECTION 1.871-14(c)(1)(i) FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND WITHHOLDING TAX
PURPOSES.
IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND
TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE
DECLARATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.
Certificate
Number
P-[__] [______]
Capital Securities
January
[__], 2009
Certificate
Evidencing Fixed Rate Capital Securities
of
Maiden
Capital Financing Trust
(liquidation
amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security)
Maiden
Capital Financing Trust, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State
of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that [HOLDER] (the “Holder”) is the
registered owner of [_____] capital securities or such other number of Capital
Securities represented hereby as may be set forth in the records of the
Securities Registrar hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Declaration
(as defined below) of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per capital security) (the
“Capital Securities”). Subject to the Declaration, the Capital Securities are
transferable on the books and records of the Trust in person or by a duly
authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly endorsed and in
proper form for transfer. The Capital Securities represented hereby are issued
pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences
and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities shall in all respects
be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
of the Trust dated as of January 20, 2009, among Arturo M. Raschbaum, John M.
Marshaleck and Karen L. Schmitt, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as
Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, Maiden
Holdings North America, Ltd., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the
designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I
to such amended and restated declaration as the same may be amended from time to
time (the “Declaration”). Capitalized terms used herein but not
defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is
entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee, the Parent Guarantee and the
Indenture to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the
Declaration, the Guarantee, the Parent Guarantee and the Indenture to the Holder
without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of
business.
Upon
receipt of this Security, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled
to the benefits thereunder.
By
acceptance of this Security, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States
federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital
Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
This
Capital Security is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of
laws.
Signatures
appear on following page
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate.
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MAIDEN
CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST
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By:
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Name:
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Title: Administrator
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CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
This is
one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned
Declaration.
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WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY,
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as
the Institutional Trustee
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By:
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Authorized
Officer
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[FORM OF
REVERSE OF CAPITAL SECURITY]
Distributions
payable on each Capital Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to the
Distribution Rate beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and
ending on the (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date (defined herein) in
January, 2039, and each succeeding January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15
of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding
Business Day (each a “Distribution Payment Date”), applied to the stated
liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate
of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee.
Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the
Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The
term “Distributions” as used herein includes payments of cash distributions and
any such compounded distributions and any Additional Sums payable on the
Debentures unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to
the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the
Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds
available therefor. The amount of the Distribution payable for any
Distribution Period commencing on or after the date of the original issuance
will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, it
being understood that no additional interest shall on non-Business Days for the
given Distribution Period.
“Distribution
Rate” means the rate per annum of 14%.
The
Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the
maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by
United States law.
All
percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be
rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage
point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g.,
9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar
amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the
nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).
Except as
otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital Securities will be
cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable
quarterly in arrears on each Distribution Payment Date, commencing on the
Distribution Payment Date in April, 2009. The Debenture Issuer has
the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures,
so long as no Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by
extending the interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods
(each an “Extension Period”) at any time and from time to time on the
Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension
Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension
Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such
accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in
effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such
interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the
extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “Additional
Interest”). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution
Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period the Debenture Issuer shall
pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with
Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no
Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date. Prior to the
termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend
such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and
further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly
periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any
Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and
Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period,
subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional
Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end
thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and
payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional
Interest. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Capital
Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension
Period. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be
paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to Holders of the
Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record
date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Capital Securities
must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period)
to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such
distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust’s funds available
for Distribution to the Holders of the Capital Securities will be limited to
payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of
moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the
Guarantee and by the Parent pursuant to the Parent Guarantee.
The
Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the
Declaration.
The
Holder of the Capital Securities may also require the repurchase of a
corresponding principal amount of Debentures after a Change of Control as
provided in the Declaration.
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE
RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security
Certificate to:
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(Insert
assignee’s social security or tax identification number)
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(Insert
address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably
appoints
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agent to
transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the
Registrar. The agent may substitute another to act for him or
her.
(Sign
exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security
Certificate)
Signature
Guarantee:1
1
Signature must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a
bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the
requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or
such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security
registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
[FORM OF
PURCHASE NOTICE]
To: Maiden
Holdings North America, Ltd.
The
undersigned owner of this Capital Security hereby: (i) irrevocably
exercises the option to require Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. to purchase
this Capital Security, or the portion hereof below designated, for an amount
equal to the Change of Control Purchase Price of a principal amount of the
Debentures held by the Trust equal to the liquidation amount of such Capital
Security, or the portion hereof below designated.
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(Name)
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(Street
Address)
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(City,
State and Zip Code)
(Please
print name and address)
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Social
Security or Other
Taxpayer
Identifying Number
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Liquidation
Amount to be Purchased
(if
less than all – must be a multiple of $1,000)
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(Sign
exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security
Certificate)
2 Signature
must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a bank,
stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the
requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or
such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security
registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXHIBIT
A-2
FORM OF
COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE
THIS
COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION.
THIS
CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 8.1 OF
THE DECLARATION (DEFINED HEREIN).
THIS
COMMON SECURITY IS IN REGISTERED FORM WITHIN THE MEANING OF TREASURY REGULATIONS
SECTION 1.871-14(c)(1)(i) FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND WITHHOLDING TAX
PURPOSES.
Certificate
Number
C-[__] [___]
Common Securities
January
[__], 2009
Certificate
Evidencing Fixed Rate Common Securities
of
Maiden
Capital Financing Trust
Maiden
Capital Financing Trust, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State
of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that Maiden Holdings North America,
Ltd. (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of common securities of the Trust
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the
“Common Securities”). Subject to the Declaration (as defined below),
the Common Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust in
person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly
endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The Common Securities represented
hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges,
restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common
Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the
Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of January 20, 2009, among Arturo M.
Raschbaum, John M. Marshaleck and Karen L. Schmitt, as Administrators,
Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as
Institutional Trustee, Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. as Sponsor, and the
holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the
Trust including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set
forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration, as the same may be
amended from time to time (the “Declaration”). Capitalized terms used
herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the
Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee,
the Parent Guarantee and the Indenture to the extent provided
therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the
Guarantee, the Parent Guarantee and the Indenture to the Holder without charge
upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of
business.
As set
forth in the Declaration, when an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of Holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of
Distributions and payments upon Liquidation, redemption or otherwise are
subordinated to the rights of payment of Holders of the Capital
Securities.
Upon
receipt of this Certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is
entitled to the benefits thereunder.
By
acceptance of this Certificate, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States
federal income tax purposes, the Fixed Rate Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures (“Debentures”) as indebtedness and the Common Securities as evidence
of undivided beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
This
Common Security is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of
laws.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate.
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MAIDEN
CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
Administrator
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[FORM OF
REVERSE OF COMMON SECURITY]
Distributions
payable on each Common Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to the
Distribution Rate beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and
ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date (defined herein) in
January, 2039, and each succeeding January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15
of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding
Business Day (each a “Distribution Payment Date”), applied to the stated
liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Common Security, such rate being the rate of
interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee.
Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the
Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The
term “Distributions” as used herein includes payments of cash distributions and
any such compounded distributions and any Additional Sums payable on the
Debentures unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to
the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the
Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds
available therefor. The amount of the Distribution payable for any
Distribution Period commencing on or after the date of the original issuance
will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, it
being understood that no additional interest shall on non-Business Days for the
given Distribution Period.
“Distribution
Rate” means the rate per annum of 14%.
The
Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the
maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by
United States law.
All
percentages resulting from any calculations on the Common Securities will be
rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage
point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g.,
9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar
amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the
nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).
Except as
otherwise described below, Distributions on the Common Securities will be
cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable
quarterly in arrears on each Distribution Payment Date, commencing on the
Distribution Payment Date in April, 2009. The Debenture Issuer has
the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures,
so long as no Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by
extending the interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly
periods (each an “Extension Period”) at any time and from time to time on the
Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension
Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension
Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such
accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in
effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such
interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the
extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “Additional
Interest”). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution
Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period the Debenture Issuer shall
pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with
Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no
Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date. Prior to the
termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend
such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and
further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly
periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any
Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and
Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period,
subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall
be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but
each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable
during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any
Extension Period, Distributions on the Common Securities shall be deferred for a
period equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the
Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period
terminates, to Holders of the Common Securities as they appear on the books and
records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date.
Distributions on the Common Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after
giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds
available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the
Trust. The Trust’s funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Common
Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture
Issuer.
The
Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the
Declaration.
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE
RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Common Security Certificate
to:
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(Insert
assignee’s social security or tax identification
number)
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(Insert
address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably
appoints
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agent to
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transfer
this Common Security Certificate on the books of the
Registrar. The agent may substitute another to act for him or
her.
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Date:
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Signature:
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(Sign
exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security
Certificate)
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Signature:
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(Sign
exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security
Certificate)
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3 Signature
must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a bank,
stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union, meeting the
requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or
such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security
registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXHIBIT
B-1
Form
of Transferor Certificate
to
be Executed by QIBs
__________,
[ ]
Maiden
Capital Financing Trust
6000
Midlantic Drive
Mount
Laurel, NJ 08054
Attention:
John M. Marshaleck
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Re:
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Purchase
of $1,000 stated liquidation amount of Fixed RateCapital Securities (the
“Capital Securities”) of Maiden Capital Financing
Trust
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Reference
is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Maiden
Capital Financing Trust, dated as of January 20, 2009 (the “Declaration”), among
Arturo M. Raschbaum, John M. Marshaleck and Karen L. Schmitt, as Administrators,
Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as
Institutional Trustee, Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd., as Sponsor, and the
holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
Maiden Capital Financing Trust. Capitalized terms used but not
defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the
Declaration.
This
letter relates to $________________________ aggregate liquidation amount of
Capital Securities which are held in the name of [name of transferor] (the
“Transferor”).
In
accordance with Article VI of the Declaration, the Transferor hereby certifies
that such Capital Securities are being transferred in accordance with (i) the
transfer restrictions set forth in the Capital Securities and (ii)
Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”), to a transferee that
the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the Capital Securities for its
own account or an account with respect to which the transferee exercises sole
investment discretion and the transferee and any such account is a “qualified
institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, in a transaction
meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and in accordance with applicable
securities laws of any state of the United States or any other
jurisdiction.
You are
entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this
letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal
proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered
hereby.
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(Name
of Transferor)
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Date:
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EXHIBIT
B-2
Form
of Transferee Certificate
to
be Executed by Transferees other than QIBs
__________,
[ ]
Maiden
Capital Financing Trust
6000
Midlantic Drive
Mount
Laurel, NJ 08054
Attention:
John M. Marshaleck
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Re:
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Purchase
of $____________ stated liquidation amount of Fixed Rate Capital
Securities (the “Capital Securities”) of Maiden Capital
Financing Trust
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Ladies
and Gentlemen:
In
connection with our purchase of the Capital Securities we confirm
that:
1. We
understand that the Fixed Rate Capital Securities (the
“Capital Securities”) of Maiden Capital Financing Trust (the “Trust”)
(including the guarantee (the “Guarantee”) of Maiden Holdings North America,
Ltd. (the “Company”) and the guarantee (the “Parent Guarantee”) of Maiden
Holdings, Ltd. executed in connection therewith) and the Fixed Rate Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2039 of the Company (the “Debentures”) (the
entire amount of the Trust’s outstanding Capital Securities, the Guarantee, the
Parent Guarantee and the Debentures together being referred to herein as the
“Offered Securities”), have not been registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold except
as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf
of any investor account for which we are purchasing the Offered Securities that,
if we decide to offer, sell or otherwise transfer any such Offered Securities,
(i) such offer, sale or transfer will be made only (a) to the Trust, (b) to a
person we reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” (a “QIB”) (as
defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) in a transaction meeting the
requirements of Rule 144A, (c) to an institutional “accredited investor” within
the meaning of subparagraph (a) (1), (2), (3) or (7) of Rule 501
under the Securities Act that is acquiring Offered Securities for its own
account, or for the account of such an “accredited investor,” for investment
purposes and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any
distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act, (d) pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (e) pursuant to an
exemption from the Securities Act, in each case in accordance with any
applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other
applicable jurisdiction and, in the case of (c) or (e), subject to the right of
the Trust and the depositor to require an opinion of counsel and other
information satisfactory to each of them. The foregoing restrictions on resale
will not apply subsequent to the date on which, in the written opinion of
counsel, the Capital Securities are not “restricted securities” within the
meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. If any resale or
other transfer of the Offered Securities is proposed to be made pursuant to
clause (c) or (e) above, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the
transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Institutional Trustee
as Securities Registrar, which shall provide as applicable, among other things,
that the transferee is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of
subparagraph (a) (1), (2), (3) or (7) of Rule 501 under the Securities
Act that is acquiring such Securities for investment purposes and not for
distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We acknowledge on our behalf
and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Securities
that the Trust and the Company reserve the right prior to any offer, sale or
other transfer pursuant to clause (c) or (e) to require the delivery of any
opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to the
Trust and the Company. We understand that the certificates for any
Offered Security that we receive will bear a legend substantially to the effect
of the foregoing.
2. We
are an “accredited investor” within the meaning of subparagraph (a) (1),
(2), (3) or (7) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act purchasing for our own
account or for the account of such an “accredited investor,” and we are
acquiring the Offered Securities for investment purposes and not with view to,
or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the
Securities Act, and we have such knowledge and experience in financial and
business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our
investment in the Offered Securities, and we and any account for which we are
acting are each able to bear the economic risks of our or its
investment.
3. We
are acquiring the Offered Securities purchased by us for our own account (or for
one or more accounts as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion
and have authority to make, and do make, the statements contained in this
letter) and not with a view to any distribution of the Offered Securities,
subject, nevertheless, to the understanding that the disposition of our property
will at all times be and remain within our control.
4. In
the event that we purchase any Capital Securities or any Debentures, we will
acquire such Capital Securities having an aggregate stated liquidation amount of
not less than $100,000 or such Debentures having an aggregate principal amount
not less than $100,000, for our own account and for each separate account for
which we are acting.
5. We
acknowledge that we are not a fiduciary of (i) an employee benefit, individual
retirement account or other plan or arrangement subject to Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or
Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (each
a “Plan”); or (ii) an entity whose underlying assets include “plan assets” by
reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity, and are not purchasing any of the
Offered Securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” by reason of any Plan’s
investment in the entity.
6. We
acknowledge that the Trust and the Company and others will rely upon the truth
and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties and
agreements and agree that if any of the acknowledgments, representations,
warranties and agreements deemed to have been made by our purchase of any of the
Offered Securities are no longer accurate, we shall promptly notify the
Company. If we are acquiring any Offered Securities as a fiduciary or
agent for one or more investor accounts, we represent that we have sole
discretion with respect to each such investor account and that we have full
power to make the foregoing acknowledgments, representations and agreement on
behalf of each such investor account.
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(Name
of Purchaser)
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By:
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Date:
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Upon
transfer, the Capital Securities (having a stated liquidation amount of
$_____________) would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as
follows.
EXHIBIT
C
SPECIMEN
OF INITIAL DEBENTURE
EXHIBIT
D
PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
MAIDEN
HOLDINGS NORTH AMERICA, LTD.,
as
Issuer
INDENTURE
Dated
as of January 20, 2009
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY,
as
Trustee
FIXED
RATE SUBORDINATED
DEFERRABLE
INTEREST DEBENTURES
DUE
2039
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE
I.
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DEFINITIONS
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1
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Section
1.1.
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Definitions
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1
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ARTICLE
II.
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DEBENTURES
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7
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Section
2.1.
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Authentication
and Dating
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7
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Section
2.2.
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Form
of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
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8
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Section
2.3.
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Form
and Denomination of Debentures
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8
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Section
2.4.
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Execution
of Debentures
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9
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Section
2.5.
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Exchange
and Registration of Transfer of Debentures.
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9
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Section
2.6.
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Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures
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12
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Section
2.7.
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Temporary
Debentures
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13
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Section
2.8.
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Payment
of Interest and Additional Interest
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13
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Section
2.9.
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Cancellation
of Debentures Paid, etc
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14
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Section
2.10.
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Computation
of Interest
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14
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Section 2.11.
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Extension
of Interest Payment Period
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15
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Section
2.12.
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CUSIP
Numbers
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16
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ARTICLE
III.
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PARTICULAR
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
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16
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Section
3.1.
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Payment
of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the
Debentures
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16
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Section
3.2.
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Offices
for Notices and Payments, etc
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17
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Section
3.3.
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Appointments
to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office
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17
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Section
3.4.
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Provision
as to Paying Agent
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17
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Section
3.5.
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Certificate
to Trustee
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18
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Section
3.6.
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Additional
Sums
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18
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Section
3.7.
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Compliance
with Consolidation Provisions
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19
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Section
3.8.
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Limitation
on Dividends
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20
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Section
3.9.
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Covenants
as to the Trust
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20
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Section
3.10.
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Additional
Junior Indebtedness
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20
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ARTICLE
IV.
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SECURITYHOLDERS
LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
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21
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Section
4.1.
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Securityholders
Lists
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21
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Section
4.2.
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Preservation
and Disclosure of Lists
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21
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ARTICLE
V.
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REMEDIES
OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF
DEFAULT
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22
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Section
5.1.
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Events
of Default
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22
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Section
5.2.
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Payment
of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor
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24
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Section
5.3.
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Application
of Moneys Collected by Trustee
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26
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Section
5.4.
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Proceedings
by Securityholders
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26
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Section
5.5.
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Proceedings
by Trustee
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27
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Section
5.6.
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Remedies
Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver
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27
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Section
5.7.
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Direction
of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of
Securityholders
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27
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Section
5.8.
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Notice
of Defaults
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28
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Section
5.9.
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Undertaking
to Pay Costs
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28
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ARTICLE
VI.
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CONCERNING
THE TRUSTEE
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29
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Section
6.1.
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Duties
and Responsibilities of Trustee
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29
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Section
6.2.
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Reliance
on Documents, Opinions, etc
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30
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Section
6.3.
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No
Responsibility for Recitals, etc
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31
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Section
6.4.
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Trustee,
Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own
Debentures
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31
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Section
6.5.
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Moneys
to be Held in Trust
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31
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Section
6.6.
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Compensation
and Expenses of Trustee
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32
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Section
6.7.
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Officers’
Certificate as Evidence
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32
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Section
6.8.
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Eligibility
of Trustee
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32
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Section
6.9.
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Resignation
or Removal of Trustee
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33
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Section
6.10.
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Acceptance
by Successor Trustee
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34
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Section
6.11.
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Succession
by Merger, etc
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35
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Section 6.12.
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Authenticating
Agents
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35
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ARTICLE
VII.
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CONCERNING
THE SECURITYHOLDERS
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36
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Section
7.1.
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Action
by Securityholders
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36
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Section
7.2.
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Proof
of Execution by Securityholders
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37
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Section
7.3.
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Who
Are Deemed Absolute Owners
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37
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Section
7.4.
|
Debentures
Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding
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38
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Section
7.5.
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Revocation
of Consents; Future Holders Bound
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38
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ARTICLE
VIII.
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SECURITYHOLDERS
MEETINGS
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38
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Section
8.1.
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Purposes
of Meetings
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38
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Section
8.2.
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Call
of Meetings by Trustee
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39
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Section
8.3.
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Call
of Meetings by Company or Securityholders
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39
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Section
8.4.
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Qualifications
for Voting
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39
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Section
8.5.
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Regulations
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39
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Section
8.6.
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Voting
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40
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Section
8.7.
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Quorum;
Actions
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40
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ARTICLE
IX.
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SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURES
|
|
41
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Section
9.1.
|
Supplemental
Indentures without Consent of Securityholders
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|
41
|
Section
9.2.
|
Supplemental
Indentures with Consent of Securityholders
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|
43
|
Section
9.3.
|
Effect
of Supplemental Indentures
|
|
43
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Section
9.4.
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Notation
on Debentures
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44
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Section
9.5.
|
Evidence
of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to
Trustee
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44
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ARTICLE
X.
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REDEMPTION
OF SECURITIES
|
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44
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|
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Section
10.1.
|
Optional
Redemption
|
|
44
|
Section
10.2.
|
Special
Event Redemption
|
|
44
|
Section
10.3.
|
Notice
of Redemption; Selection of Debentures
|
|
44
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Section
10.4.
|
Payment
of Debentures Called for Redemption
|
|
45
|
Section
10.5.
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Obligations
of the Company to Purchase Debentures after a Change of
Control
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|
46
|
Section
10.6.
|
No
Other Purchase of Capital Securities or Debentures Other than Pro
Rata
|
|
46
|
|
|
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ARTICLE
XI.
|
CONSOLIDATION,
MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE
|
|
46
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|
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|
|
Section
11.1.
|
Company
May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms
|
|
46
|
Section
11.2.
|
Successor
Entity to be Substituted
|
|
47
|
Section
11.3.
|
Opinion
of Counsel to be Given to Trustee
|
|
47
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|
|
|
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ARTICLE
XII.
|
SATISFACTION
AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
|
Section
12.1.
|
Discharge
of Indenture.
|
|
47
|
Section
12.2.
|
Deposited
Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee
|
|
48
|
Section
12.3.
|
Paying
Agent to Repay Moneys Held
|
|
48
|
Section
12.4.
|
Return
of Unclaimed Moneys
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
XIII.
|
IMMUNITY
OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
Section
13.1.
|
Indenture
and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
XIV.
|
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
Section
14.1.
|
Successors
|
|
49
|
Section
14.2.
|
Official
Acts by Successor Entity
|
|
49
|
Section
14.3.
|
Surrender
of Company Powers
|
|
49
|
Section
14.4.
|
Addresses
for Notices, etc
|
|
49
|
Section
14.5.
|
Governing
Law
|
|
49
|
Section
14.6.
|
Evidence
of Compliance with Conditions Precedent
|
|
50
|
Section
14.7.
|
Table
of Contents, Headings, etc
|
|
50
|
Section
14.8.
|
Execution
in Counterparts
|
|
50
|
Section
14.9.
|
Severability
|
|
50
|
Section 14.10.
|
Assignment
|
|
50
|
Section
14.11.
|
Acknowledgment
of Rights
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
XV.
|
SUBORDINATION
OF DEBENTURES
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
Section
15.1.
|
Agreement
to Subordinate
|
|
51
|
Section
15.2.
|
Default
on Senior Indebtedness
|
|
51
|
Section
15.3.
|
Liquidation,
Dissolution, Bankruptcy
|
|
52
|
Section
15.4.
|
Subrogation
|
|
53
|
Section
15.5.
|
Trustee
to Effectuate Subordination
|
|
54
|
Section
15.6.
|
Notice
by the Company
|
|
54
|
Section
15.7.
|
Rights
of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness
|
|
54
|
Section
15.8.
|
Subordination
May Not Be Impaired
|
|
55
|
Exhibit
A Form
of Fixed Rate Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debenture
THIS
INDENTURE, dated as of January 20, 2009, between Maiden Holdings North America,
Ltd., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
Wilmington Trust Company, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware, as debenture trustee (the “Trustee”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance
of its Fixed Rate Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2039 (the
“Debentures”)
under this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the execution and
authentication, delivery and administration thereof, and the Company has duly
authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS,
all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement according
to its terms, have been done and performed;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the Debentures
by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for
the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time
of the Debentures as follows:
ARTICLE
I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1.
Definitions. The terms defined in
this Section 1.1 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless
the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any
indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in
this Section 1.1. All accounting terms used herein and not
expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles and the term “generally accepted
accounting principles” means such accounting principles as are generally
accepted in the United States at the time of any computation. 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.
“Additional Interest”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.
“Additional Junior
Indebtedness” means, without duplication and other than the Debentures,
(a) any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Company, or any
Subsidiary of the Company, under debt securities (or guarantees in respect of
debt securities) initially issued on or after the date of this Indenture to any
trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the
Company that is, directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such term is
defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or other
financing vehicle of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection
with the issuance by that entity of preferred securities, (b) other securities
that are issued either junior and subordinate to or on a pari passu basis with the
Debentures or (c) any guarantees of the Company in respect of the equity or
other securities of any entity referred to in clause (a).
“Additional Sums” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
“Affiliate” has the
same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or
any successor rule thereunder.
“Authenticating Agent”
means any agent or agents of the Trustee which at the time shall be appointed
and acting pursuant to Section 6.12.
“Bankruptcy Law” means
Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of
debtors.
“Board of Directors”
means the board of directors or the executive committee or any other duly
authorized designated officers of the Company.
“Board Resolution”
means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and
to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered
to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking
institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required
by any applicable law to close.
“Capital Securities”
means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities
issued by the Trust; provided, however, that upon
the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default (as defined in
the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in
respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise
are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital
Securities.
“Capital Securities
Guarantee” means the guarantee agreement that the Company enters into
with Wilmington Trust Company, as guarantee trustee, or other Persons that
operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Capital Securities
of the Trust.
“Certificate” means a
certificate signed by any one of the principal executive officer, the principal
financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the
Company.
“Change of Control”
means the occurrence of any of (i) an acquisition after the date hereof by an
individual or legal entity or “group” (as described in Rule 13d-5(b)(1)
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of effective control (whether through legal
or beneficial ownership of capital stock of the Company or the Parent, by
contract or otherwise) of in excess of 25% of the voting securities of the
Company or the Parent, (ii) a replacement at one time or over time of more than
one-half of the members of the board of directors of the Company or the Parent
which is not approved by a majority of those individuals who are members of the
board of directors on the date hereof (or by those individuals who are serving
as members of the board of directors on any date whose nomination to the board
of directors was approved by a majority of the members of the board of directors
who are members on the date hereof), (iii) the merger of the Company or the
Parent with or into another entity that is not majority-owned by the Company or
the Parent or that does not own a majority of the equity securities of the
Company or the Parent, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or the Parent in one or a series of related transactions,
or (iv) the execution by the Company or the Parent of an agreement to which the
Company or the Parent is a party or by which it is bound, providing for any of
the events set forth above in (i), (ii) or (iii) above.
“Common Securities”
means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Capital
Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that upon
the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default (as defined in
the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in
respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise
are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital
Securities.
“Company” means Maiden
Holdings North America, Ltd., a Delaware corporation, and, subject to the
provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and
assigns.
“Debenture” or “Debentures” has the
meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture.
“Debenture Register”
has the meaning specified in Section 2.5.
“Declaration” means
the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, as amended or
supplemented from time to time.
“Default” means any
event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would
constitute an Event of Default.
“Defaulted Interest”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
“Determination Date”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
“Distribution Period”
means (i) with respect to the first Interest Payment Date, the period beginning
on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding)
the Interest Payment Date in April, 2009 and (ii) thereafter, with respect to
each Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the
preceding Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current
Interest Payment Date.
“Event of Default”
means any event specified in Section 5.1, continued for the period of time,
if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein
designated.
“Excluded Assets” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.
“Extension Period” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.
“Indenture” means this
instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein
provided, as so amended or supplemented, or both.
“Institutional
Trustee” has the meaning set forth in the Declaration.
“Interest Payment
Date” means each January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each
year during the term of this Indenture, or if any such day is not a Business
Day, then the next succeeding Business Day, commencing in April,
2009.
“Interest Rate” means
14%.
“Investment Company
Event” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the
occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including any
announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or
regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within
90 days of the date of such opinion will be considered an “investment company”
that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become
effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the
Debentures.
“Liquidation Amount”
means the stated amount of $1,000.00 per Trust Security.
"Maiden BDA Company"
means a subsidiary of the Parent that is not a subsidiary of the
Company.
“Maiden Group” means
the Parent and its Subsidiaries including the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
“Maturity Date” means
January 15, 2039.
“Officers’
Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer,
the Vice Chairman, the President, any Vice President, and by the Chief Financial
Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such
certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if
and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.
“Opinion of Counsel”
means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of
or counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided
for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such
Section.
“Optional Redemption
Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
“Optional Redemption
Price” means (a) if the Optional Redemption Date is before the Interest
Payment Date in January, 2014, 114% of the principal amount of the Debentures,
plus accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on the
Debentures to the Optional Redemption Date, or (b) if the Optional
Redemption Date is on or after the Interest Payment Date in January, 2014, 100%
of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and
unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the
Optional Redemption Date.
The term
“outstanding,”
when used with reference to Debentures, means, subject to the provisions of
Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all Debentures authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture,
except:
(a) Debentures
theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Debentures,
or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the
necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any
paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and
segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying
agent); provided, however, that, if
such Debentures, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity
thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in
Section 10.3 or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made
for giving such notice; and
(c) Debentures
paid pursuant to Section 2.6 or in lieu of or in substitution for which
other Debentures shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the
terms of Section 2.6 unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the
Trustee is presented that any such Debentures are held by bona fide holders in
due course.
“Parent” means Maiden
Holdings, Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda.
“Parent Guarantee”
means the guarantee agreement, dated as of January 20, 2009, of the Parent of
the obligations of the Company in respect of the Capital Securities and the
Debentures.
“Person” means any
individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Predecessor Security”
of any particular Debenture means every previous Debenture evidencing all or a
portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debenture; and,
for purposes of this definition, any Debenture authenticated and delivered under
Section 2.6 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture shall be deemed to
evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture.
“Principal Office of the
Trustee,” or other similar term, means the office of the Trustee, at
which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally
administered, which at the time of the execution of this Indenture shall be 1100
North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust
Administration.
“Responsible Officer”
means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the Principal Office of
the Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any
secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any
trust officer or other officer of the Principal Trust Office of the Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust
matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that
officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Securities Act” means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time or any successor
legislation.
“Securityholder,”
“holder of
Debentures,” or other similar terms, means any Person in whose name at
the time a particular Debenture is registered on the register kept by the
Company or the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms
hereof.
“Senior Indebtedness”
means, with respect to the Company, (i) the principal, premium, if any, and
interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed
and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or
other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease
obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or
assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale
obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title
retention agreement; (iv) all obligations of the Company for the
reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker’s acceptance, any security
purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any interest
rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options or any
similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the type
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other Persons for the
payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or
otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in
clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any
property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by
the Company), whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or
thereafter incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Senior
Indebtedness” shall not include (1) any Additional Junior Indebtedness,
(2) Debentures issued pursuant to this Indenture and guarantees in respect
of such Debentures, (3) trade accounts payable of the Company arising in the
ordinary course of business (such trade accounts payable being pari passu in right of
payment to the Debentures), or (4) obligations with respect to which (a) in the
instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is
outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are pari passu, junior or
otherwise not superior in right of payment to the Debentures and (b) the
Company, prior to the issuance thereof, has, if required, notified the relevant
state insurance regulatory agency. Senior Indebtedness shall continue
to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination provisions
irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior
Indebtedness.
“Special Event” means
either of an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event.
“Special Redemption
Date” has the meaning set forth in Section
10.1.
“Special Redemption
Price” means (a) if the Special Event is before the Interest Payment
Date in January, 2014, 114% of the principal amount of the Debentures, plus
accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on the Debentures to
the Special Redemption Date, or (b) if the Special Event is on or after the
Interest Payment Date in January, 2014, 100% of the principal amount of the
Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any
Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption
Date.
“Subsidiary” means
with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation or limited liability
company at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or
by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general
partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the
outstanding partnership or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned
by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one
or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such
Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the
purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means shares, interests,
participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated)
in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of
the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests,
participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the
occurrence of a contingency.
“Tax Event” means the
receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in
such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change
(including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations
thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority
thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement
(including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, field service
advice, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement, including any notice or
announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations (an “Administrative
Action”)) or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or
regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial
decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company
or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment,
clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated
or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the
Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk
that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the
date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect
to income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by
the Company on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such
opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United
States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be
within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de
minimis amount of other taxes (excluding withholding taxes), duties or other
governmental charges.
“Third Party Capital”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.
“Trust” shall mean
Maiden Capital Financing Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, or any other similar
trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital Securities in connection with
the issuance of Debentures under this Indenture, of which the Company is the
sponsor.
“Trustee” means
Wilmington Trust Company, and, subject to the provisions of Article VI
hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee
hereunder.
“Trust Securities”
means Common Securities and Capital Securities of the Trust.
ARTICLE
II.
DEBENTURES
Section
2.1. Authentication
and Dating. Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture,
or from time to time thereafter, Debentures in an aggregate principal amount not
in excess of $268,050,000.00 may be executed and delivered by the Company to the
Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and
make available for delivery said Debentures to or upon the written order of the
Company, signed by its Chief Executive Officer, the President, or one of its
Vice Presidents without any further action by the Company
hereunder. In authenticating such Debentures, and accepting the
additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures,
the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1)
shall be fully protected in relying upon:
(a) a
copy of any Board Resolution or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if
applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such
resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Company, as the case may be; and
(b) an
Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 14.6 which shall
also state:
(1) that
such Debentures, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by
the Company in each case in the manner and subject to any conditions specified
in such Opinion of Counsel, will have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company, will be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and
will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against
the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium and other laws affecting
the rights and remedies of creditors generally and of general principles of
equity; and
(2) that
all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the
Company of the Debentures have been complied with and that authentication and
delivery of the Debentures by the Trustee will not violate the terms of this
Indenture.
The
Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any
Debentures under this Section if the Trustee, being advised in writing by
counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such
action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing
holders.
The
definitive Debentures shall be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved on steel
engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by
the officers executing such Debentures, as evidenced by their execution of such
Debentures.
Section
2.2. Form of
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s
certificate of authentication on all Debentures shall be in substantially the
following form:
This is
one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture.
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
By
Authorized
Signer
Section
2.3. Form and
Denomination of Debentures. The Debentures shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The
Debentures shall be in registered, certificated form without coupons and in
minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess
thereof. Any attempted transfer of the Debentures in a block having
an aggregate principal amount of less than $100,000.00 shall be deemed to be
void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Any such purported transferee
shall be deemed not to be a holder of such Debentures for any purpose,
including, but not limited to the receipt of payments on such Debentures, and
such purported transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such
Debentures. The Debentures shall be numbered, lettered, or otherwise
distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plans as the officers
executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced
by the execution and authentication thereof.
Section
2.4. Execution
of Debentures. The Debentures shall be signed in the name and
on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chief
Executive Officer, President, or one of its Executive Vice Presidents, Senior
Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents. Only such Debentures as shall
bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein
before recited, executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the
manual signature of an authorized signer, shall be entitled to the benefits of
this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such
certificate by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any Debenture
executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debenture so
authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the
holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
In case
any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debentures shall
cease to be such officer before the Debentures so signed shall have been
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, or
disposed of by the Company, such Debentures nevertheless may be authenticated
and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debentures had
not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debenture may be signed on
behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of
such Debenture, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the
date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an
officer.
Every
Debenture shall be dated the date of its authentication.
Section
2.5. Exchange
and Registration of Transfer of Debentures. The
Company shall cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained for the
purpose of registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in
Section 3.2, a register (the “Debenture Register”)
for the Debentures issued hereunder in which, subject to such reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration
and transfer of all Debentures as in this Article II
provided. The Debenture Register shall be in written form or in any
other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable
time.
Debentures
to be exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at
any office or agency to be maintained by the Company for such purpose as
provided in Section 3.2, and the Company shall execute, the Company or the
Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall
authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Debenture
or Debentures which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to
receive. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any
Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of
the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the
Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee
or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery
in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like
aggregate principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer
of any Debenture by the Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed
pursuant to Section 3.2, and delivery of such Debenture, shall be deemed to
complete the registration or registration of transfer of such
Debenture.
All
Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment
shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent)
be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized
in writing.
No
service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of
Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection therewith.
The
Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer
of any Debenture for a period of 15 days next preceding the date of
selection of Debentures for redemption.
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, Debentures may not be transferred except in
compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth below, unless
otherwise determined by the Company, upon the advice of counsel expert in
securities law, in accordance with applicable law:
THIS
SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES
LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO
OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY,
(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY
BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE
PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A
NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR
RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS
ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN
INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW
TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF
THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM
THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S
RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE
COMPANY.
THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND
WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR
OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT
INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN
ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S
INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY
ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR
HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR
ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT
PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH
RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS
SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS
PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH
SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON
BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING
THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR
(ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER
SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO
APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.
THIS
SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF
$1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY
IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL
BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.
THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.
THIS
SECURITY IS IN REGISTERED FORM WITHIN THE MEANING OF TREASURY REGULATIONS
SECTION 1.871-14(c)(1)(i) FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND WITHHOLDING TAX
PURPOSES.
IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND
TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE
INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.
Section
2.6. Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures. In case any Debenture
shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall
execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, a new Debenture bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in
exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debenture, or in lieu of and in
substitution for the Debenture so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every
case the applicant for a substituted Debenture shall furnish to the Company and
the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each
of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the
applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their
satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the
ownership thereof.
The
Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debenture and deliver the same
upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the
Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debenture, the Company
may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses connected therewith. In case any Debenture which has matured
or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become
mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a
substitute Debenture, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without
surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debenture) if the applicant
for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case
of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and to the
Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership
thereof.
Every
substituted Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.6
by virtue of the fact that any such Debenture is destroyed, lost or stolen shall
constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not
the destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall be found at any time, and shall be
entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with
any and all other Debentures duly issued hereunder. All Debentures
shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted
by applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the
replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures and
shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or
statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the
replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without
their surrender.
Section
2.7. Temporary
Debentures. Pending the preparation of definitive Debentures,
the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available
for delivery temporary Debentures that are typed, printed or
lithographed. Temporary Debentures shall be issuable in any
authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive
Debentures in lieu of which they are issued but with such omissions, insertions
and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debentures, all as may be
determined by the Company. Every such temporary Debenture shall be
executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same
conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as
the definitive Debentures. Without unreasonable delay the Company
will execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent definitive
Debentures and thereupon any or all temporary Debentures may be surrendered in
exchange therefor, at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee or at
any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in
Section 3.2, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate
and make available for delivery in exchange for such temporary Debentures a like
aggregate principal amount of such definitive Debentures. Such
exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge
therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving a registration of
transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax,
fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto. Until so exchanged, the temporary Debentures shall in all
respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive
Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section
2.8. Payment
of Interest and Additional Interest. Interest at the Interest
Rate and any Additional Interest on any Debenture that is payable, and is
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for
Debentures shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debenture (or one or
more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the
regular record date for such interest installment except that interest and any
Additional Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to
whom principal is paid.
Each
Debenture shall bear interest at a rate per annum of the Interest Rate, applied
to the principal amount thereof, until the principal thereof becomes due and
payable, and on any overdue principal and to the extent that payment of such
interest is enforceable under applicable law (without duplication) on any
overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest
Rate in effect for each applicable period compounded
quarterly. Interest shall be payable (subject to any relevant
Extension Period) quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with the
first installment of interest to be paid on the Interest Payment Date in April,
2009.
Any
interest on any Debenture, including Additional Interest, that is payable, but
is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date
(herein called “Defaulted Interest”)
shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant
regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted
Interest shall be paid by the Company to the Persons in whose names such
Debentures (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 at least 25 days prior to the date of the proposed
payment of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such
Debenture and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company
shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount
proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of
the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause
provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for
the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less
than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days
after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed
payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such
special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall
cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special
record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each
Securityholder at its address as it appears in the Debenture Register, not less
than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the
proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor
having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the
Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor
Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer
payable.
The
Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Debentures in any
other lawful manner after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the
proposed payment method; provided, however, the Trustee
in its sole discretion deems such payment method to be practical.
Any
interest (including Additional Interest) scheduled to become payable on an
Interest Payment Date occurring during an Extension Period shall not be
Defaulted Interest and shall be payable on such other date as may be specified
in the terms of such Debentures.
The term
“regular record date” as used in this Section shall mean the close of business
on the 15th
calendar day next preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date.
Subject
to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Debenture delivered under this
Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any
other Debenture shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to
accrue, that were carried by such other Debenture.
Section
2.9. Cancellation
of Debentures Paid, etc. All Debentures surrendered for the
purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if
surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be surrendered to the Trustee
and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee or any
Authenticating Agent, shall be promptly canceled by it, and no Debentures shall
be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions
of this Indenture. All Debentures canceled by any Authenticating
Agent shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall destroy
all canceled Debentures unless the Company otherwise directs the Trustee in
writing. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debentures, however,
such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the
indebtedness represented by such Debentures unless and until the same are
surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.10. Computation
of Interest. The amount of interest payable for any
Distribution Period commencing on or after the date of original issuance will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, it being
understood that if a Distribution is payable on a non Business Day, and the
Distribution Payment Date is on the next succeeding Business Day, no additional
interest or other Distributions shall accrue in respect of any such
delay. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the
Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth
of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded
upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655),
and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be
rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded
upward)).
All
certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations
and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the
provisions relating to the payment and calculation of interest on the Debentures
and distributions on the Capital Securities by the Trustee or the Institutional
Trustee will (in the absence of willful default, bad faith and manifest error)
be final, conclusive and binding on the Trust, the Company and all of the
holders of the Debentures and the Capital Securities, and no liability shall (in
the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) attach to the
Trustee or the Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or
non-exercise by either of them of their respective powers, duties and
discretion.
Section
2.11. Extension
of Interest Payment Period. So long as no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time,
and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any
time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to
20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment
period, an “Extension
Period”), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional
Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due
and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an
Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will
continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will
accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension
Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable
were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such
interest referred to herein as “Additional
Interest”). At the end of any such Extension Period the
Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures
(together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no
Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further, however, that during
any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any
Affiliate of the Company controlled by the Company to (i) declare or pay
any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s or such Affiliate’s
capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company
or a Subsidiary of the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to
the foregoing; (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or
premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities or other
debt obligations of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company controlled by
the Company that rank pari
passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures; or
(iii) enter into, amend or modify any contracts with shareholders holding more
than 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company that could
require cash payments by the Company to such shareholder (other than, with
respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or
other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other
similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers,
directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Company or of such Subsidiary (or securities convertible into or
exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a
result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s
capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Company) for any
class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or in the case of a Subsidiary
of the Company, any class or series of such Subsidiary’s capital stock) or of
any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the
Company’s capital stock (or in the case of indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the
Company, of any class or series of such Subsidiary’s indebtedness for any class
or series of such Subsidiary’s capital stock), (c) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock (or the capital
stock of a Subsidiary of the Company) pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged,
(d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’
rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any
stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant
thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other
rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such
warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the
dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to
such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in
connection therewith, or (f) payments under the Capital Securities
Guarantee); and other than, with respect to clause (iii) above, (A) any
reinsurance or other risk transfer, producer, intermediary, claims management,
underwriting, investment management, administrative or services agreement
between (I) an insurance company Affiliate of the Company and (II) the Parent or
a Maiden BDA Company, so long as such agreement has been approved or is
permitted as an agreement with an affiliate by the governmental authority that
regulates insurance companies in the jurisdiction in which such insurance
company subsidiary of the Company is domiciled or the laws of such domiciliary
jurisdiction, or (B) any producer, intermediary, claims management,
underwriting, investment management, administrative or services agreement
between (i) the Company or one of its non-insurance company Affiliates and (ii)
a Maiden BDA Company, so long as such agreement is on terms no less favorable to
the Company or its non-insurance company Affiliate than arm’s-length
terms). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company
may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such
previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed
20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity
Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the
payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company
may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing
requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and
payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each
installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during an
Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest to the extent permitted by
applicable law. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its
election to begin or extend an Extension Period at least 5 Business Days prior
to the regular record date (as such term is used in Section 2.8) immediately
preceding the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the
Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend an
Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company’s
election to begin a new Extension Period to the
Securityholders.
Section
2.12. CUSIP
Numbers. The Company in issuing the Debentures may use “CUSIP”
numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP
numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders; provided, however, that any
such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of
such numbers either as printed on the Debentures or as contained in any notice
of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification
numbers printed on the Debentures, and any such redemption shall not be affected
by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will
promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP
numbers.
ARTICLE
III.
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE
COMPANY
Section
3.1. Payment
of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the
Debentures.
(a) The
Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be
paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest and any Additional
Interest and other payments on the Debentures at the place, at the respective
times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Debentures. Each
installment of interest on the Debentures may be paid (i) by mailing checks
for such interest payable to the order of the holders of Debentures entitled
thereto as they appear on the registry books of the Company if a request for a
wire transfer has not been received by the Company or (ii) by wire transfer
to any account with a banking institution located in the United States
designated in writing by such Person to the paying agent no later than the
related record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the
holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the
principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately
available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the
Institutional Trustee.
(b) The
Company will treat the Debentures as indebtedness of the Company that is in
registered form within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section
1.871-14(c)(1)(i). The Company will further treat the amounts payable
in respect of the principal amount of such Debentures as interest for all United
States federal income and withholding tax purposes. All interest
payments in respect of such Debentures will be made free and clear of United
States withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any substitute or successor form)
establishing its non-United States status for United States federal income and
withholding tax purposes.
(c) As
of the date of this Indenture, the Company has no present intention to exercise
its right under Section
2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an
Extension Period.
(d) As
of the date of this Indenture, the Company believes that the likelihood that it
would exercise its right under Section
2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an
Extension Period at any time during which the Debentures are outstanding is
remote because of the restrictions that would be imposed on the Company’s
ability to declare or pay dividends or distributions on, or to redeem, purchase
or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its outstanding equity and
on the Company’s ability to make any payments of principal of or interest on, or
repurchase or redeem, any of its debt securities that rank pari passu in all respects
with (or junior in interest to) the Debentures.
Section
3.2. Offices
for Notices and Payments, etc. So long as any of the
Debentures remain outstanding, the Company will maintain in Wilmington,
Delaware, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for payment,
an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for registration of
transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency
where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures or
of this Indenture may be served. The Company will give to the Trustee
written notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of
location thereof. Until otherwise designated from time to time by the
Company in a notice to the Trustee, or specified as contemplated by Section
2.5, such office or agency for all of the above purposes shall be the
office or agency of the Trustee. In case the Company shall fail to
maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, or shall fail to
give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof,
presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal
Office of the Trustee.
In
addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to time
designate one or more offices or agencies outside Wilmington, Delaware, where
the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange in
the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time
rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such
designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its
obligation to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, for
the purposes above mentioned. The Company will give to the Trustee
prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission
thereof.
Section
3.3. Appointments
to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office. The Company, whenever
necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in
the manner provided in Section 6.9, a Trustee, so that there shall at all
times be a Trustee hereunder.
Section
3.4. Provision
as to Paying Agent.
(a) If
the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee, it will cause
such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which
such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this
Section 3.4,
(1) that
it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal
of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures (whether such
sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the
Debentures) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the
Debentures;
(2) that
it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company (or
by any other obligor on the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of
and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall
be due and payable; and
(3) that
it will, at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the
written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in
trust by such paying agent.
(b) If
the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due
date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if
any, on the Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit
of the holders of the Debentures a sum sufficient to pay such principal,
premium, interest or other payments so becoming due and will notify the Trustee
in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company
(or by any other obligor under the Debentures) to make any payment of the
principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the
Debentures when the same shall become due and payable.
Whenever
the Company shall have one or more paying agents for the Debentures, it will, on
or prior to each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest,
if any, on the Debentures, deposit with a paying agent a sum sufficient to pay
the principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due, such sum to
be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and (unless
such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee
in writing of its action or failure to act.
(c) Anything
in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at
any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect
to the Debentures, or for any other reason, pay, or direct any paying agent to
pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any such paying
agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein
contained.
(d) Anything
in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold
sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.4 is subject to
Sections 12.3 and 12.4.
Section
3.5. Certificate
to Trustee. The Company will deliver to the Trustee on or
before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, so long as Debentures
are outstanding hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the
performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would
normally have knowledge of any Default during such fiscal year by the Company in
the performance of any covenants contained herein, stating whether or not they
have knowledge of any such Default and, if so, specifying each such Default of
which the signers have knowledge and the nature and status thereof.
Section
3.6. Additional
Sums. If and for so long as the Trust or a trustee of the
Trust is the holder of all Debentures and the Trust is required to pay any
additional taxes (excluding withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other
governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, then the Company will pay such
additional amounts (“Additional Sums”) on
the Debentures as shall be required so that the net amounts received and
retained by the Trust after paying such taxes (excluding withholding taxes),
duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts
the Trust would have received if no such taxes (excluding withholding taxes),
duties, assessments or other governmental charges had been
imposed. Whenever in this Indenture or the Debentures there is a
reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the
Debentures, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of payments of the
Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such
context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof
pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the payment
of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be
construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such
express mention is not made; provided, however, that the
deferral of the payment of interest during an Extension Period pursuant to
Section 2.11 shall not defer the payment of any Additional Sums that may be
due and payable.
Section
3.7. Compliance
with Consolidation Provisions. The Company will not, while any
of the Debentures remain outstanding, (a) consolidate with, or merge into any
other Person, or (b) sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of, directly or
indirectly through its Subsidiaries, in a single transaction or in any series of
transactions occurring during any twelve-month period, more than 70% of its
assets, unless in each case of a consolidation, merger, sale,
conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets, the provisions of
Article XI hereof are complied with; provided, however, that any
portion of assets (“Excluded Assets”)
constituting portfolio investment assets of any mutual or hedge fund managed or
operated by the Company or a Subsidiary attributable to capital invested in such
mutual or hedge fund by any Person that is not part of the Maiden Group (“Third Party Capital”)
shall not be included as part of the Company’s assets for purposes of this
Section 3.7(b), it being understood and agreed that the amount of the Excluded
Assets shall be determined by multiplying the value of the total portfolio
investment assets of such mutual or hedge fund (as reflected on the balance
sheet included in the then most recent consolidated audited financial statements
of the Company prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted
accounting principles) by a fraction, the numerator which shall be the aggregate
amount of Third Party Capital invested in such mutual or hedge fund and the
denominator of which shall be the total amount of capital invested by all
Persons in such mutual or hedge fund.
Section
3.8. Limitation
on Dividends. If Debentures are initially issued to the Trust
or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities
by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such
Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of
Default; (ii) the dollar amount of the Company’s premium volume from insurance
policies in any calendar year fails to exceed 51% of the Company’s premium
volume from insurance policies in the previous calendar year; (iii) the Company
sells more than 51% of its rights to renew insurance policies in any single
transaction or series of related transactions; (iv) any Significant Subsidiary
(as defined in Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X to the Securities Act (the
“Significant Subsidiaries”)) of the Company which is rated by A.M. Best Company,
Inc. (x) receives a rating from A.M. Best Company Inc. of B- or lower; or (y)
submits a request to withdraw its rating by A.M. Best Company, Inc.;
(v) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any
obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee; or (vi) the Company
shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such
period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall
not, and shall not permit any Affiliate of the Company controlled by the Company
to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the
Company’s or such Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or
distributions to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) or make any
guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing; (y) make any payment of
principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities or other debt obligations of the Company or any Affiliate of
the Company controlled by the Company that rank pari passu in all respects
with or junior in interest to the Debentures; or (z) enter into, amend or modify
any contract with a shareholder holding more than 10% of the outstanding shares
of common stock of the Company that could require cash payments by the Company
to such shareholder (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above,
(1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital
stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with any
employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the
benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in
connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in
connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company or of such
Subsidiary (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital
stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the
applicable Extension Period, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion
of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a
Subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital
stock (or in the case of a Subsidiary of the Company, any class or series of
such Subsidiary’s capital stock) or of any class or series of the Company’s
indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or in the
case of indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Company, of any class or series of
such Subsidiary’s indebtedness for any class or series of such Subsidiary’s
capital stock), (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Company’s capital stock (or the capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Company)
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock
or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of
stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock
issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same
stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to
such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in
connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital Securities
Guarantee; and other than, with respect to clause (z) above, (A) any reinsurance
or other risk transfer, producer, intermediary, claims management, underwriting,
investment management, administrative or services agreement between (i) an
insurance company Affiliate of the Company and (ii) the Parent or a Maiden BDA
Company, so long as such agreement has been approved or is permitted as an
agreement with an affiliate by the governmental authority that regulates
insurance companies in the jurisdiction in which such insurance company
subsidiary of the Company is domiciled or the laws of such domiciliary
jurisdiction, or (B) any producer, intermediary, claims management,
underwriting, investment management, administrative or services agreement
between (i) the Company or one of its non-insurance company Affiliates and (ii)
a Maiden BDA Company, so long as such agreement is on terms no less favorable to
the Company or its non-insurance company Affiliate than arm’s-length
terms).
Section
3.9. Covenants
as to the Trust. For so long as the Trust Securities remain
outstanding, the Company shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities;
provided, however, that any
permitted successor of the Company under this Indenture may succeed to the
Company’s ownership of such Common Securities. The Company, as owner
of the Common Securities, shall, except in connection with a distribution of
Debentures to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the
redemption of all of the Trust Securities or certain mergers, consolidations or
amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration, cause the
Trust (a) to remain a statutory trust, (b) to otherwise continue
to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes, and (c) to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as
owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debentures.
Section
3.10. Additional
Junior Indebtedness. The Company shall not,
and it shall not cause or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, incur, issue
or be obligated on any Additional Junior Indebtedness, either directly or
indirectly, by way of guarantee, suretyship or otherwise, other than Additional
Junior Indebtedness that, by its terms, is expressly stated to be either junior
and subordinate or pari
passu in all respects to the Debentures.
ARTICLE
IV.
SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS AND
REPORTS
BY THE COMPANY AND THE
TRUSTEE
Section
4.1. Securityholders
Lists. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish
or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) on
each regular record date for the Debentures, a list, in such form as the Trustee
may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders of the
Debentures as of such record date; and
(b) at
such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days
after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and
content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is
furnished;
except
that no such lists need be furnished under this Section 4.1 so long as the
Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Debenture
registrar.
Section
4.2. Preservation
and Disclosure of Lists.
(a) The
Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all
information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures
(1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in
Section 4.1 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debentures
registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list
furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so
furnished.
(b) In
case three or more holders of Debentures (hereinafter referred to as
“applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee
reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debenture for a period of
at least 6 months preceding the date of such application, and such application
states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders of
Debentures with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such
Debentures and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other
communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall
within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election,
either:
(1)
afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the
Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section 4.2, or
(2)
inform such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of Debentures
whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the
Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section 4.2, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such
Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in
such application.
If the
Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information,
the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each
Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the
time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of
this Section 4.2 a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which
is specified in such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the
Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the
payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after
such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, if permitted or required by applicable law,
together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the
effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to
the best interests of the holders of all Debentures, as the case may be, or
would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall
specify the basis of such opinion. If said Commission, as permitted
or required by applicable law, after opportunity for a hearing upon the
objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order
refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order
sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall find, after
notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have
been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of
such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the
entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall
be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their
application.
(c) Each
and every holder of Debentures, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with
Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying
agent shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such
information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures in
accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.2,
regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the
Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant
to a request made under said subsection (b).
ARTICLE
V.
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND
SECURITYHOLDERS
UPON AN EVENT OF
DEFAULT
Section
5.1. Events of
Default. “Event of Default,”
wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason
for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be
effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any
court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental
body):
(a) the
Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debenture when it
becomes due and payable, and fails to cure such default for a period of
30 days; provided, however, that a valid
extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the
terms of this Indenture shall not constitute a default in the payment of
interest for this purpose; or
(b) the
Company defaults in the payment of all or any part of the principal of (or
premium, if any, on) any Debentures as and when the same shall become due and
payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration or
otherwise; or
(c) the
Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants or
agreements in this Indenture or in the terms of the Debentures established as
contemplated in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in
whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically
dealt with) or the Parent defaults in the performance of or breaches, its
covenants in Section 5.1 of the Parent Guarantee, and continuance of such
default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by
registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company
and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of
the outstanding Debentures, a written notice specifying such default or breach
and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of
Default” hereunder; or
(d) a
court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in
respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or
shall appoint a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator
(or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its
property, or shall order the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such
decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of
90 consecutive days; or
(e) the
Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect,
shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under
any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other
similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or
shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail
generally to pay its debts as they become due;
(f) the
Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up
its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in connection with
(i) the distribution of the Debentures to holders of the Trust Securities
in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (ii) the redemption of all
of the outstanding Trust Securities or (iii) certain mergers,
consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration;
or
(g) the
Significant Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X
to the Securities Act (the “Significant
Subsidiaries”)) of the Company, in the aggregate, (i) fail to offer to
renew at least 30% of its business during any twelve-month period; or (ii) sell
more than 70% of their rights to renew insurance policies in one or more
transactions during any twelve-month period.
If an
Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then,
and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall
have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not
less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding
hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by
Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debentures and the
interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon
any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and
payable.
The
foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time
after the principal of the Debentures shall have been so declared due and
payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due
shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company
shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal of and
premium, if any, on the Debentures which shall have become due otherwise than by
acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and
Additional Interest) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable
compensation of the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective
agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant
to Section 6.6, if any, and (ii) all Events of Default under this
Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on
the Debentures which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been
cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein — then and in every
such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the
Trustee, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such declaration and its
consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or
shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent
thereon.
In case
the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and
such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such
rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined
adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee
and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored respectively to their
several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of
the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall continue as
though no such proceeding had been taken.
Section
5.2. Payment
of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor. The Company covenants
that upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default
pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b) then, upon demand of the Trustee,
the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the
Debentures the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all
Debentures for principal and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case
may be, with Additional Interest accrued on the Debentures (to the extent that
payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and, if the
Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such Trust, without duplication
of any other amounts paid by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust in respect
thereof); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient
to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable
compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other
amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6. In case the
Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee,
in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and
empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the
collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or
proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or
final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures and
collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any
other obligor on such Debentures wherever situated the moneys adjudged or
decreed to be payable.
In case
there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization
of the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures under Bankruptcy Law, or
in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the
Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial
proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debentures, or to
the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee,
irrespective of whether the principal of the Debentures shall then be due and
payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and
irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 5.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by
intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,
|
(a)
|
to
file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and
interest owing and unpaid in respect of the
Debentures,
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(b)
|
in
case of any judicial proceedings, (i) to file such proofs of claim and
other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to
have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable
compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their
respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all
other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6), and of the
Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the
Company or any other obligor on the Debentures, or to the creditors or
property of the Company or such other obligor, unless prohibited by
applicable law and regulations and (ii) to vote on behalf of the holders
of the Debentures in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in
arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings or Person performing similar functions in comparable
proceedings,
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(c)
|
to
collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on
any such claims, and
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(d)
|
to
distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and
expenses.
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By its
acceptance of any Debentures, each Securityholder shall be deemed to have
authorized any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization 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 Securityholders, to pay
to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable
compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective
agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee under
Section 6.6.
Nothing
herein contained shall be construed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or
consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Debentures
or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in
respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such
proceeding.
All
rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of
the Debentures, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of
the Debentures, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding
relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee
shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and, subject to
Section 5.3, any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of
the holders of the Debentures.
In any
proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the
interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be
a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders of the
Debentures, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of the Debentures
parties to any such proceedings.
Section
5.3. Application
of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys collected by the
Trustee pursuant to this Article V shall be applied in the following order,
at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys,
upon presentation of the several Debentures in respect of which moneys have been
collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon
surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To
the payment of costs and expenses incurred by, and reasonable fees of, the
Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other amounts due to the
Trustee under Section 6.6;
Second: To
the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent
required by Article XV;
Third: To
the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Debentures for principal
(and premium, if any), and interest on the Debentures, in respect of which or
for the benefit of which money has been collected, ratably, without preference
or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due on such Debentures for
principal (and premium, if any) and interest (including Additional Interest),
respectively; and
Fourth: The
balance, if any, to the Company.
Section
5.4. Proceedings
by Securityholders. No holder of any Debenture shall have any
right to institute any suit, action or proceeding for any remedy hereunder,
unless such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of
an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and unless the holders of not
less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding
shall have given the Trustee a written request to institute such action, suit or
proceeding and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it
may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred thereby,
and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and
offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or
proceeding.
Notwithstanding
any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any holder of any
Debenture to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest,
on such Debenture when due, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder
and by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and
covenanted by the taker and holder of every Debenture with every other such
taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Debentures
shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing itself of
any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of
the holders of any other Debentures, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority
over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this
Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and
common benefit of all holders of Debentures. For the protection and
enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and
the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in
equity.
Section
5.5. Proceedings
by Trustee. In case of an Event of Default hereunder the
Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested
in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee
shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by
suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise,
whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in
this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture,
or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this
Indenture or by law.
Section
5.6. Remedies
Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a
Waiver. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.6 with
respect to the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures,
all powers and remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the
Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and
not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the
holders of the Debentures, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the
performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this
Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Debentures, and no delay
or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Debentures to exercise
any right, remedy or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and
continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right, remedy or power, or shall
be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and,
subject to the provisions of Section 5.4, every power and remedy given by
this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be
exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the
Trustee (in accordance with its duties under Section 6.1) or by the
Securityholders.
No delay
or omission of the Trustee or any Securityholder to exercise any right or remedy
accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence
therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to
the Trustee or to any Securityholder may be exercised from time to time, and as
often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (in accordance with its duties
under Section 6.1 hereof) or by such holder, as the case may be.
Section
5.7. Direction
of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of
Securityholders. The holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures affected (voting as one class) at the time
outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising
any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such Debentures;
provided, however, that
(subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have the right
to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine that the
action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part
in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the
action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible
Officer of the Trustee shall determine that the action or proceedings so
directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
The
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the
time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures waive (or
modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default,
and its consequences, except an Event of Default (a) specified in Sections
5.1(a) and (b), (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof which
cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each
Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in
Section 3.9; provided, however, that if the
Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or
modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a
majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities shall have consented to
such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further, that if the
consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver
shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities shall have
consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered
thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the
Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to
their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver
shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair
any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of
Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section, said
default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and this
Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.
Section
5.8. Notice of
Defaults. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the occurrence of a
default with respect to the Debentures, mail to all Securityholders, as the
names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Debenture Register, notice
of all defaults with respect to the Debentures known to the Trustee, unless such
defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term
“defaults” for the purpose of this Section 5.8 being hereby defined to be
the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of
Section 5.1, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for therein);
provided, however, that, except
in the case of default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on any of the Debentures, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding
such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith
determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Securityholders.
Section
5.9. Undertaking
to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each
holder of any Debenture by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have
agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the
enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against
the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any
party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and
that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including
reasonable attorneys’ 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; provided, however, that the
provisions of this Section 5.9 shall not apply to any suit instituted by
the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of
Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of
the Debentures outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for
the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or
interest on any Debenture against the Company on or after the same shall have
become due and payable.
ARTICLE
VI.
CONCERNING THE
TRUSTEE
Section
6.1. Duties
and Responsibilities of Trustee. With respect to the holders
of Debentures issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event
of Default with respect to the Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all
Events of Default which may have occurred, with respect to the Debentures,
undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set
forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this
Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with
respect to the Debentures has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a
prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his
own affairs.
No
provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from
liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its
own willful misconduct, except that:
(a) prior
to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Debentures and after
the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have
occurred
(1) the
duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debentures shall be
determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee
shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations
with respect to the Debentures as are specifically set forth in this Indenture,
and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture
against the Trustee, and
(2) in
the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case
of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are
specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under
a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Indenture;
(b) the
Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a
Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that
the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(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
Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.7, 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.
None of
the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if there is ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or
liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or indemnity
satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk is not reasonably assured to
it.
Section
6.2. Reliance
on Documents, Opinions, etc. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 6.1:
(a) the
Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or
refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, note, debenture or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any
request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate (unless other evidence in
respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may
be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Company;
(c) the
Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or Opinion of
Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in
accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(d) the
Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers
vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the
Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such
Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred
therein or thereby;
(e) the
Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith
and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers
conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein shall, however,
relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default with respect to the Debentures (that has not been cured or waived) to
exercise with respect to Debentures such of the rights and powers vested in it
by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their
exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the
conduct of his own affairs;
(f) the
Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters
stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other
paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not
less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures
affected thereby; provided, however, that if the
payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or
liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is,
in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the
security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require
reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so
proceeding;
(g) the
Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties
hereunder either directly or by or through agents (including any Authenticating
Agent) or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct
or negligence on the part of any such agent or attorney appointed by it with due
care; and
(h) with
the exceptions of defaults under Sections 5.1(a) or 5.1(b), the Trustee shall
not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to
the Debentures unless a written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall
have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the
Debentures or by any holder of the Debentures.
Section
6.3. No
Responsibility for Recitals, etc. The recitals contained
herein and in the Debentures (except in the certificate of authentication of the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall be taken as the statements of the
Company, and the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent assume no responsibility
for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and the Authenticating
Agent make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this
Indenture or of the Debentures. The Trustee and the Authenticating
Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any
Debentures or the proceeds of any Debentures authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture.
Section
6.4. Trustee,
Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own
Debentures. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or any
paying agent or any transfer agent or any Debenture registrar, in its individual
or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debentures with the
same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, paying
agent, transfer agent or Debenture registrar.
Section
6.5. Moneys to
be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of
Section 12.4, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall,
until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for
which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to
the extent required by law. The Trustee and any paying agent shall be
under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as
otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. So long as no Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such
moneys shall be paid from time to time to the Company upon the written order of
the Company, signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice
President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the
Company.
Section
6.6. Compensation
and Expenses of Trustee. The Company covenants and agrees to
pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such
compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between the Company and the
Trustee (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the
compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Company will pay or
reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses,
disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with
any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation
and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not
regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may
arise from its negligence or willful misconduct. The Company also
covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (and its
officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against,
any and all loss, damage, action, suit, claim, liability, cost or expense
including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred
without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and arising
out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of
liability. The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.6
to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for
expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness
hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien
prior to that of the Debentures upon all property and funds held or collected by
the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders
of particular Debentures.
Without
prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law,
when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event
of Default specified in Section 5.1(d), Section 5.1(e) or
Section 5.1(f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses
of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute
expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law.
The
provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the
Trustee and the defeasance or other termination of this Indenture.
Notwithstanding
anything in this Indenture or any Debenture to the contrary, the Trustee shall
have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds to pay any principal of or
interest on or other amounts with respect to the Debentures or otherwise advance
funds to or on behalf of the Company.
Section
6.7. Officers’
Certificate as Evidence. Except as otherwise provided in
Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the provisions of
this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be
proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such
matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part
of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an
Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the
absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be
full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the
provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
Section
6.8. Eligibility
of Trustee. The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a
banking corporation or national association organized and doing business under
the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of
the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
powers, having (or whose obligations under this Indenture are guaranteed by an
affiliate having) a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million
U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00) and subject to supervision or examination by
federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If
such corporation or national association publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.8 the combined
capital and surplus of such corporation or national association shall be deemed
to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent records
of condition so published.
The
Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as
Trustee.
In case
at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 6.8, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the
manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.9.
If the
Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of
§310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee shall either eliminate
such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner described by this
Indenture.
Section
6.9. Resignation
or Removal of Trustee.
(a) The
Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign
by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing
notice thereof, at the Company’s expense, to the holders of the Debentures at
their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register. Upon
receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a
successor trustee or trustees by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by
order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered
to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor Trustee. If no
successor Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment
within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected
Securityholders, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Securityholder
who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least six
months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, on behalf of himself
and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment
of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice,
if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor
Trustee.
(b) In
case at any time any of the following shall occur —
(1) the
Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 6.8 after
written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a
bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months,
or
(2) the
Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6.8 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the
Company or by any such Securityholder, or
(3) the
Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a 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, then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and
appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by
order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered
to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to
the provisions of Section 5.9, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide
holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months may, on behalf of
himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor
Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it
may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor
Trustee.
(c) Upon
prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may at
any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor Trustee, which shall be
deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within 10 Business Days after such
nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case, or in the case of a
failure by such holders to nominate a successor Trustee, the Trustee so removed
or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in
subsection (a) of this Section 6.9 provided, may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor Trustee.
(d) Any
resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee
pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in
Section 6.10.
Section
6.10. Acceptance
by Successor Trustee. Any successor Trustee appointed as
provided in Section 6.9 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the
Company and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment
hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee
shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed
or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and
obligations with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with
like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the
written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing
to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions
of Section 6.6, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee so ceasing to act and
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property
and money held by such retiring Trustee thereunder. Upon request of
any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in
writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor
Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall,
nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such
Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.6.
If a
successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring Trustee and the
successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
which 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 Debentures as to which the predecessor Trustee is not
retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and 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 Trust hereunder by more than
one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental
indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that
each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and
apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such
Trustee.
No
successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at
the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be eligible under the
provisions of Section 6.8.
In no
event shall a retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any
successor Trustee hereunder.
Upon
acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in this
Section 6.10, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such
Trustee hereunder to the holders of Debentures at their addresses as they shall
appear on the Debenture Register. If the Company fails to mail such
notice within 10 Business Days after the acceptance of appointment by the
successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at
the expense of the Company.
Section
6.11. Succession
by Merger, etc. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be
merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of
the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the
Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such
corporation shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this
Article.
In case
at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by
this Indenture any of the Debentures shall have been authenticated but not
delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of
authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debentures so
authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debentures shall not have
been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such
Debentures either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the
successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full
force which it is anywhere in the Debentures or in this Indenture provided that
the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the
right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or
authenticate Debentures in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only
to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or
consolidation.
Section
6.12. Authenticating
Agents. There may be one or more Authenticating Agents
appointed by the Trustee upon the request of the Company with power to act on
its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of
the Debentures issued upon exchange or registration of transfer thereof as fully
to all intents and purposes as though any such Authenticating Agent had been
expressly authorized to authenticate and deliver Debentures; provided, however, that the
Trustee shall have no liability to the Company for any acts or omissions of the
Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of any
Debentures. Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized
under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000.00 and being subject to supervision or
examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia
authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at
least annually pursuant to law or the requirements of such authority, then for
the purposes of this Section 6.12 the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth
in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time
an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with
the effect herein specified in this Section.
Any
corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party,
or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust
business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such
Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise
eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any
paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such
Authenticating Agent.
Any
Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of
resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any
time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the
Debentures by giving written notice of termination 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 any Authenticating Agent shall
cease to be eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the
request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent
eligible under this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such
appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all
holders of Debentures as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the
Debenture Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon
acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights,
powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the Debentures of its
predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating
Agent herein.
The
Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable
compensation for its services. Any Authenticating Agent shall have no
responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in accordance
with the directions of the Trustee.
ARTICLE
VII.
CONCERNING THE
SECURITYHOLDERS
Section
7.1. Action by
Securityholders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided
that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures may take any action (including the making of any demand or request,
the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action)
the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such
specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any
instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such
Securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or
(b) by the record of such holders of Debentures voting in favor thereof at
any meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the
provisions of Article VIII, or (c) by a combination of such instrument
or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders or
(d) by any other method the Trustee deems satisfactory.
If the
Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation
of the same, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’
Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such Debentures for the
determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation
of the same, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If
such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same may be given
before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the
close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for
the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion
of outstanding Debentures have authorized or agreed or consented to such
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action or revocation of the same, and for that purpose the outstanding
Debentures shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such
authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date
shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the
provisions of this Indenture not later than 6 months after the record
date.
Section
7.2. Proof of
Execution by Securityholders. Subject to the provisions of
Section 6.1, 6.2 and 8.5, proof of the execution of any instrument by a
Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance
with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee
or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The
ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture Register or by a
certificate of the Debenture registrar. The Trustee may require such
additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem
necessary.
The
record of any Securityholders meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in
Section 8.6.
Section
7.3. Who Are
Deemed Absolute Owners. Prior to due presentment for
registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any
Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture
registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered
upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of
such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose
of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company
nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any
transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to
the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time
being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so
paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon
any such Debenture.
Section
7.4. Debentures
Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding. In determining
whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Debentures
have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture,
Debentures which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures
or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under
direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the
Debentures shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose
of any such determination; provided, however, that for the
purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any
such direction, consent or waiver, only Debentures which a Responsible Officer
of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so
disregarded. Debentures so owned which have been pledged in good
faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 7.4
if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s
right to vote such Debentures and that the pledgee is not the Company or any
such other obligor or Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by
or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other
obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by
the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the
Trustee.
Section
7.5. Revocation
of Consents; Future Holders Bound. At any time prior to (but
not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of
the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures specified in this Indenture in connection with such
action, any holder (in cases where no record date has been set pursuant to
Section 7.1) or any holder as of an applicable record date (in cases where
a record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) of a Debenture (or any
Debenture issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the
serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debentures
the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice
with the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and upon proof of
holding as provided in Section 7.2, revoke such action so far as concerns
such Debenture (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented by any
exchanged or substituted Debenture). Except as aforesaid any such
action taken by the holder of any Debenture shall be conclusive and binding upon
such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Debenture, and of any
Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of
transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto
is made upon such Debenture or any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution
therefor.
ARTICLE
VIII.
SECURITYHOLDERS
MEETINGS
Section
8.1. Purposes
of Meetings. A meeting of Securityholders may be called at any
time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII
for any of the following purposes:
(a) to
give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to
the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its
consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by
Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of
Article V;
(b) to
remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions
of Article VI;
(c) to
consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto
pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2; or
(d) to
take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of
any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debentures under any other
provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
Section
8.2. Call of
Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any time call a
meeting of Securityholders to take any action specified in Section 8.1, to
be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall
determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting
forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action
proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Debentures
affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debentures Register and,
if the Company is not a holder of Debentures, to the Company. Such
notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the
date fixed for the meeting.
Section
8.3. Call of
Meetings by Company or Securityholders. In case at any time
the Company pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures, as the case may be, then
outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of
Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the
action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have
mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such
request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the
place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized
in Section 8.1, by mailing notice thereof as provided in
Section 8.2.
Section
8.4. Qualifications
for Voting. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of
Securityholders a Person shall be (a) a holder of one or more Debentures
with respect to which the meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed
by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such
Debentures. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or
to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote
at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its
counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
Section 8.5.
Regulations. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable
regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in
regard to proof of the holding of Debentures and of the appointment of proxies,
and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the
submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the
right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as
it shall think fit.
The
Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the
meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by
Securityholders as provided in Section 8.3, in which case the Company or
the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like
manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a
permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the
meeting.
Subject
to the provisions of Section 7.4, at any meeting each holder of Debentures
with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be
entitled to one vote for each $1,000.00 principal amount of Debentures held or
represented by him; provided, however, that no vote
shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debenture challenged
as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not
outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote
other than by virtue of Debentures held by him or instruments in writing as
aforesaid duly designating him as the Person to vote on behalf of other
Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant
to the provisions of Section 8.2 or 8.3 may be adjourned from time to time
by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the
meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
Section
8.6. Voting. The
vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of holders of Debentures with
respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which
shall be subscribed the signatures of such holders or of their representatives
by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Debentures held or represented
by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two
inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against
any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting
their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the
meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of
Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there
shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes
on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having
knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and
showing that said notice was mailed as provided in
Section 8.2. The record shall show the serial numbers of the
Debentures voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record
shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and
secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the
Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter
to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.
Any
record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters
therein stated.
Section
8.7. Quorum;
Actions. The Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall constitute a quorum
for a meeting of Securityholders; provided, however, that if any
action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver,
request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which may be
given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, the Persons holding or
representing such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures
then outstanding will constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum
within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting
shall, if convened at the request of Securityholders, be
dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a
period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of
the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence
of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further
adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the
permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned
meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be
given as provided in Section 8.2, except that such notice need be given
only once not less than 5 days prior to the date on which the meeting is
scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned
meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the
principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding which shall constitute a
quorum.
Except as
limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any
resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which
a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then
outstanding; provided, however, that, except
as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any
resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice,
authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture expressly provides
may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding may be adopted at a meeting
or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as
aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a not less than such
specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then
outstanding.
Any
resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of Debentures duly
held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the
Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the
meeting.
ARTICLE
IX.
SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURES
Section
9.1. Supplemental
Indentures without Consent of Securityholders. The Company,
when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and
at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, without
the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following
purposes:
(a) to
evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive
successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants,
agreements and obligations of the Company, pursuant to Article XI
hereof;
(b) to
add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or
conditions for the protection of the holders of Debentures as the Board of
Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such
Debentures, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a
default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a
default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the
several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, however, that in
respect of any such additional covenant, restriction or condition such
supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after
default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of
other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or
may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default;
(c) to
cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or
in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any
other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make
such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this
Indenture; provided that any
such action shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders
of the Debentures;
(d) to
add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debentures, including, without
limitation, any terms relating to the issuance, exchange, registration or
transfer of Debentures, including to provide for transfer procedures and
restrictions substantially similar to those applicable to the Capital Securities
as required by Section 2.5 (for purposes of assuring that no registration
of Debentures is required under the Securities Act); provided, however, that any
such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the
Debentures then outstanding (it being understood, for purposes of this proviso,
that transfer restrictions on Debentures substantially similar to those that
were applicable to Capital Securities shall not be deemed to materially
adversely affect the holders of the Debentures);
(e) to
evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor
Trustee with respect to the Debentures and to add to or change any of the
provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate
the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one
Trustee;
(f) to
make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this paragraph) that does
not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect;
or
(g) to
provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of
the Debentures, to establish the form of any certifications required to be
furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or the Debentures, or to add
to the rights of the holders of Debentures.
The
Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any
such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and
stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance,
transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be
obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental
indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under
this Indenture or otherwise.
Any
supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may
be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of
any of the Debentures at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the
provisions of Section 9.2.
Section
9.2. Supplemental
Indentures with Consent of Securityholders. With the consent
(evidenced as provided in Section 7.1) of the holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding
affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as a class), the Company, when
authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at
any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the
purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any
of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided, however, that no such
supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each
Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed
maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium
thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon,
or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof
or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than
that provided in the Debentures, or reduce the amount payable or extend the time
of payment of the purchase price payable in connection with a Change of Control,
or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for
payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the
holder, or modify Sections 7.4, 10.6 or the obligation to redeem all Debentures
pro rata contained in the last paragraph of Section 10.3, or (ii) reduce
the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to
consent to any such supplemental indenture; provided further, however, that if the
Debentures are held by a trust or a trustee of such trust, such supplemental
indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation
Amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture;
provided further, however, that if the
consent of the Securityholder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such
supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust
Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture.
Upon the
request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the
execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the
Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee
shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture
unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in
its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental
indenture.
Promptly
after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture
pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail,
first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the Company, setting forth in
general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the
Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture
Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any
defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of
any such supplemental indenture.
It shall
not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this
Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental
indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the
substance thereof.
Section
9.3. Effect of
Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this
Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance
therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties
and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders
of Debentures shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder
subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms
and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be
part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all
purposes.
Section
9.4. Notation
on Debentures. Debentures authenticated and delivered after
the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this
Article IX may bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such
supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so
determine, new Debentures so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board
of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in
any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company,
authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in
exchange for the Debentures then outstanding.
Section
9.5. Evidence
of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to
Trustee. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of
Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall, in addition to the documents required by
Section 14.6, receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as
conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto
complies with the requirements of this Article IX. The Trustee
shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental
indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted
by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article IX and that it is proper for
the Trustee under the provisions of this Article IX to join in the
execution thereof.
ARTICLE
X.
REDEMPTION OF
SECURITIES
Section
10.1. Optional
Redemption. The Company shall have the right to redeem the
Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with
integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date (an “Optional Redemption
Date”), at the Optional Redemption Price.
Section
10.2. Special
Event Redemption. If a Special Event shall occur and be
continuing, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole,
but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following
the occurrence of such Special Event (the “Special Redemption
Date”) at the Special Redemption Price. All certificates,
communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions
given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating
to the payment and calculation of the Special Redemption Price on the Debentures
by the Trustee shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest
error) be final, conclusive and binding on the holders of the Debentures and the
Company, and no liability shall attach (except as provided above) to the Trustee
in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by any of them of their
respective powers, duties and discretion.
Section
10.3. Notice of
Redemption; Selection of Debentures. In case the Company shall
desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of
the Debentures, it shall cause to be mailed a notice of such redemption at least
30 and not more than 60 days prior to the Optional Redemption Date or the
Special Redemption Date to the holders of Debentures so to be redeemed as a
whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Debenture
Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The
notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to
have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such
notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any
defect in the notice to the holder of any Debenture designated for redemption as
a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other Debenture.
Each such
notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any, of the Debentures
to be redeemed, the Optional Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as
applicable, the Optional Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as
applicable, at which Debentures are to be redeemed, the place or places of
payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such
Debentures, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid
as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or
on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If less
than all the Debentures are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall
specify the numbers of the Debentures to be redeemed. In case the
Debentures are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state
the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that
on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debenture, a
new Debenture or Debentures in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
thereof will be issued.
Prior to
10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Optional Redemption Date or Special
Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or
with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the
Optional Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the
Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Optional Redemption Price
or Special Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Optional
Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable.
If all,
or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the
Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior
to the Optional Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to
the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed, and the Trustee
shall redeem the Debentures pro rata (in integral multiples of
$1,000.00).
Section
10.4. Payment
of Debentures Called for Redemption. If notice of redemption
has been given as provided in Section 10.3, the Debentures or portions of
Debentures with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and
payable on the Optional Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as
applicable, and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable
Optional Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, together with interest
accrued to the Optional Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as
applicable, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the
payment of such Debentures at the Optional Redemption Price or Special
Redemption Price, as applicable, together with interest accrued to said date)
interest on the Debentures or portions of Debentures so called for redemption
shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such
Debentures at a place of payment specified in said notice, such Debentures or
the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the
applicable Optional Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, together with
interest accrued thereon to the Optional Redemption Date or Special Redemption
Date, as applicable.
Upon
presentation of any Debenture redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute
and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder
thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture or Debentures of
authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of
the Debenture so presented..
Section
10.5. Obligations
of the Company to Purchase Debentures after a Change of
Control. In the event of a Change of Control, the Company
shall purchase all or a portion of the Debentures upon the Change of Control
Purchase Date (as defined in the Declaration) upon the direction of the
Institutional Trustee, in a principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of
the Capital Securities delivered for purchase in accordance with Section 4(f) of
Annex I of the Declaration.
Prior to
10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Change of Control Purchase Date, the
Company will deposit with the Institutional Trustee or with one or more paying
agents an amount of money sufficient to purchase on the Change of Control
Purchase Date all the Debentures so called for purchase at the Optional
Redemption Price, calculated as of the date of the occurrence of the Change of
Control, of the Debentures to be purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest
(including any Additional Interest) to but not including the Change of Control
Purchase Date.
Section
10.6. No Other
Purchase of Capital Securities or Debentures Other than Pro
Rata. Except for redemptions and purchases provided for in
Sections 10.1 through 10.5, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will
purchase any of the Capital Securities, or, if the Debentures have been
distributed from the Trust, any of the Debentures, from any holder thereof
unless such purchase is offered on the same terms to all of the holders of the
Capital Securities, or Debentures, as the case may be.
ARTICLE
XI.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE,
CONVEYANCE AND LEASE
Section
11.1. Company
May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. Nothing contained in
this Indenture or in the Debentures shall prevent any consolidation or merger of
the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the
Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its
successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale,
conveyance, transfer or other disposition of, directly or indirectly through the
Subsidiaries of the Company, in a single transaction or in any series of
transactions occurring during any twelve-month period, more than 70% of the
assets of the Company (exclusive of the Excluded Assets) or its successor or
successors, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or
its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, that the
Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation, merger
(where the Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer
or other disposition of assets, the due and punctual payment of the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with
their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and
observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or
performed by the Company, shall be expressly assumed by a supplemental indenture
satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the
entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been
merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such assets.
Section
11.2. Successor
Entity to be Substituted. In case of any such consolidation,
merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption
by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to
the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual
payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the
Debentures and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the
covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the
Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the
Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and
thereupon the predecessor entity shall be relieved of any further liability or
obligation hereunder or upon the Debentures. Such successor entity
thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue in its own name, any or all of
the Debentures issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed
by the Company and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and,
upon the order of such successor entity instead of the Company and subject to
all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any
Debentures which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers
of the Company, to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for authentication,
and any Debentures which such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be
signed and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that
purpose. All the Debentures so issued shall in all respects have the
same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debentures theretofore
or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though
all of such Debentures had been issued at the date of the execution
hereof.
Section
11.3. Opinion
of Counsel to be Given to Trustee. The Trustee, subject to the
provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall receive, in addition to the
Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.5, an Opinion of Counsel as
conclusive evidence that any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer
or other disposition, and any assumption, permitted or required by the terms of
this Article XI complies with the provisions of this
Article XI.
ARTICLE
XII.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
OF INDENTURE
Section
12.1. Discharge
of Indenture. When
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(a)
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the
Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Debentures
theretofore authenticated (other than any Debentures which shall have been
destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as
provided in Section 2.6) and not theretofore canceled,
or
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(b)
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all
the Debentures not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to
become due and payable within 1 year or are to be called for redemption
within 1 year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the
giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the
Trustee, in trust, funds, which shall be immediately due and payable,
sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Debentures
(other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen
and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in
Section 2.6) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or
to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may
be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the payment of
principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures
(1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the
provisions of Section 12.4, or (2) paid to any state or to the
District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws,
and if in the case of either clause (a) or clause (b) the
Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further
effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2,
3.4, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9, 12.1 and 12.4 hereof shall survive until such
Debentures shall mature and be paid. Thereafter,
Sections 6.6 and 12.4 shall survive, and the Trustee, on demand of
the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for
relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been
complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute
proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this
Indenture. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any
costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the
Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the
Debentures.
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Section
12.2. Deposited
Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee. Subject to the
provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant
to Section 12.1 shall be held in trust in a non-interest bearing account
and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent
(including the Company if acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the
particular Debentures for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited
with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, and
premium, if any, and interest.
Section
12.3. Paying
Agent to Repay Moneys Held. Upon the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any paying agent of the
Debentures (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid
to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released
from all further liability with respect to such moneys.
Section
12.4. Return of
Unclaimed Moneys. Any moneys deposited with or paid to the
Trustee or any paying agent for payment of the principal of, and premium, if
any, or interest on Debentures and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the
holders of Debentures for 2 years after the date upon which the principal of,
and premium, if any, or interest on such Debentures, as the case may be, shall
have become due and payable, shall, subject to applicable escheatment laws, be
repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent on written demand; and
the holder of any of the Debentures shall thereafter look only to the Company
for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect, and all liability
of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon
cease.
ARTICLE
XIII.
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS,
STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS AND
DIRECTORS
Section
13.1. Indenture
and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations. No recourse for
the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any
Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and
no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company
in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or
because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had
against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such,
past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the
Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the
Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by
the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly
understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a
condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and
the issue of the Debentures.
ARTICLE
XIV.
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
Section
14.1. Successors. All
the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company in this
Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or
not.
Section
14.2. Official
Acts by Successor Entity. Any act or proceeding by any
provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by
any board, committee or officer or other authorized Person of the Company shall
and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board,
committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that shall at the
time be the lawful successor of the Company.
Section
14.3. Surrender
of Company Powers. The Company by instrument in writing
executed by authority of at least 2/3 (two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and
delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company
and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company,
and as to any permitted successor.
Section
14.4. Addresses
for Notices, etc. Any notice, consent, direction, request,
authorization, waiver or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is
required or permitted to be given, made, furnished or served by the Trustee or
by the Securityholders on or to the Company may be given or served in writing by
being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office
letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company, with the
Trustee for the purpose) to the Company, 6000 Midlantic Drive, Mount Laurel, NJ
08054, Attention: John M. Marshaleck. Any notice, consent, direction,
request, authorization, waiver or demand by any Securityholder or the Company to
or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for
all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of the Trustee,
addressed to the Trustee, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. Any notice,
consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand on or to any
Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all
purposes, if given or made in writing at the address set forth in the Debenture
Register.
Section
14.5. Governing
Law. Pursuant to Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law
of the State of New York, this Indenture and each Debenture shall be deemed to
be a contract made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said
State.
Section
14.6. Evidence
of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Upon any application
or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the
provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an
Officers’ Certificate stating that in the opinion of the signers all conditions
precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the
opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied
with.
Each
certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the
Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in
this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person making such
certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief
statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon
which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are
based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made
such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not in the opinion of
such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section
14.7. Table of
Contents, Headings, etc. The table of contents and the titles
and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted
for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and
shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions
hereof.
Section
14.8. Execution
in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section
14.9. Severability. In
case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the
Debentures shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable
in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Debentures, but this Indenture
and such Debentures shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or
unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
Section 14.10. Assignment. The
Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or
obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary
of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company
will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the
foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This
Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties hereto.
Section 14.11.
Acknowledgment
of Rights. The Company agrees that, with respect to any
Debentures held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the Trust, if the
Institutional Trustee of the Trust fails to enforce its rights under this
Indenture as the holder of Debentures held as the assets of such Trust after the
holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such
Trust have so directed such Institutional Trustee, a holder of record of such
Capital Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, institute legal
proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Institutional Trustee’s
rights under this Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings
against such trustee or any other Person. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event
is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest (or premium, if
any) or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest (or premium, if
any) or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the
redemption date), the Company agrees that a holder of record of Capital
Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding against the Company
for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal
amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of
such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the
Debentures.
ARTICLE
XV.
SUBORDINATION OF
DEBENTURES
Section
15.1. Agreement
to Subordinate. The Company covenants and agrees, and each
holder of Debentures by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof likewise
covenants and agrees, that all Debentures shall be issued subject to the
provisions of this Article XV; and each holder of a Debenture, whether upon
original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be
bound by such provisions.
The
payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on
all Debentures shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be
subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this
Indenture or thereafter incurred.
No
provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any default or
Event of Default hereunder.
Section
15.2. Default
on Senior Indebtedness. In the event and during the
continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium,
interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company
following any grace period, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior
Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default and such
acceleration has not been rescinded or canceled and such Senior Indebtedness has
not been paid in full, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the
Company with respect to the principal (including redemption) of, or premium, if
any, or interest on the Debentures.
In the
event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the
Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this
Section 15.2, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.7, be held in
trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of
Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or
trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness
may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the
extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or
representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days
of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and
only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness.
Section
15.3. Liquidation,
Dissolution, Bankruptcy. Upon any payment by the Company or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or
liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary
or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due
upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or
payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any
payment is made by the Company, on account of the principal (and premium, if
any) or interest on the Debentures. Upon any such dissolution or
winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be
entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this
Article XV, shall be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in
bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or
distribution, or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under this Indenture
if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on
the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders,
as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to
the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments
evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective
interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in
full, in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment
or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any
payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders or to the
Trustee.
In the
event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets
of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or
securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee before
all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment
in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be
held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives,
or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any
instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their
respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application
to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, remaining unpaid to the extent
necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with
its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or
for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
For
purposes of this Article XV, the words “cash, property or securities” shall
not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or
readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for
by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is
subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with
respect to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, that may at
the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is
assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization
or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such
reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company
with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation
or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its
property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation
upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article XI of this Indenture
shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for
the purposes of this Section if such other corporation shall, as a part of such
consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated
in Article XI of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 15.2 or
in this Section shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or
pursuant to Section 6.6 of this Indenture.
Section
15.4. Subrogation. Subject
to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Securityholders shall be
subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive
payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company,
applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest on the Debentures shall be paid in full. For the
purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of
such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the
Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of
this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this
Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness
by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors
other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the
Debentures be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on
account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the
provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purposes
of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Securities, on the one
hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, on the other
hand.
Nothing
contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the
Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors
other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the
Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional,
to pay to the holders of the Debentures the principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest on the Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable
in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative
rights of the holders of the Debentures and creditors of the Company, other than
the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent
the Trustee or the holder of any Debenture from exercising all remedies
otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject
to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, received
upon the exercise of any such remedy.
Upon any
payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this
Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of
this Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely
upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which
such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are
pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation
trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to
the Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the
Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or
payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other
facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.
Section
15.5. Trustee
to Effectuate Subordination. Each Securityholder by such
Securityholder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such
Securityholder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate
to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and appoints
the Trustee such Securityholder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such
purposes.
Section
15.6. Notice by
the Company. The Company shall give prompt written notice to a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee of any
fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of
monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the
provisions of this Article XV. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this Article XV or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall
not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit
the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the
Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless and until
a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee
shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or
holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the
receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of
Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume
that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the
Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least
2 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 premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture), then,
anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall
have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the
purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice
to the contrary that may be received by it within 2 Business Days prior to such
date.
The
Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall
be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a
Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee
or representative on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has
been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or
representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. 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 such Senior Indebtedness to
participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the
Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such 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 Article XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the
Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as
to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
Section
15.7. Rights of
the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee in
its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this
Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to
the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this
Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such
holder.
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 Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with
respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this
Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe
any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to
the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be
liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver
to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any
holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this
Article XV or otherwise.
Nothing
in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee
under or pursuant to Section 6.6.
Section
15.8. Subordination
May Not Be Impaired. No right of any present or future holder
of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at
any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on
the part of the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any
such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company, with the terms, provisions
and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any
such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.
Without
in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of
Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent
of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring
responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the
subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations hereunder of
the holders of the Debentures to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any
one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or
terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such
Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior
Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which
such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or
otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such
Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the
collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from
exercising any rights against the Company, and any other Person.
Signatures
appear on the following page
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day
and year first above written.
MAIDEN
HOLDINGS NORTH AMERICA, LTD.
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By:
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/s/ Arturo M. Raschbaum
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Name:
Arturo M.
Raschbaum
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Title: Chief Executive
Officer
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WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
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By:
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/s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh
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Name:
Christopher J.
Slaybaugh
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Title:
Assistant Vice
President
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EXHIBIT
A
FORM
OF FIXED RATE SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE
[FORM OF
FACE OF SECURITY]
THIS
DEBENTURE WAS ISSUED WITH “ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.” FOR INFORMATION
REGARDING THE ISSUE PRICE, THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE ISSUE DATE
AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE DEBENTURE, PLEASE CONTACT JOHN M. MARSHALECK,
MAIDEN HOLDINGS NORTH AMERICA, LTD., 600 MIDLANTIC DRIVE, MOUNT LAUREL, NJ
08054.
THIS
SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES
LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO
OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO MAIDEN HOLDINGS
NORTH AMERICA, LTD. (THE “COMPANY”), (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION
STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO
A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER
IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS
SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH
RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL
“ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF
RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS
OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR,
FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN
CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
(F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY
SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. HEDGING
TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.
THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND
WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR
OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME
SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN
ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S
INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY
ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR
HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR
ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT
PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO
SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR
ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND
HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE
MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS
APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT
RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF
THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE
EXEMPTION.
THIS
SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF
$1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY
IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL
BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.
THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.
THIS
SECURITY IS IN REGISTERED FORM WITHIN THE MEANING OF TREASURY REGULATIONS
SECTION 1.871-14(c)(1)(i) FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND WITHHOLDING TAX
PURPOSES.
IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND
TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE
INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.
Fixed
Rate Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture
of
Maiden
Holdings North America, Ltd.
January
__, 2009
Maiden
Holdings North America, Ltd., a corporation duly organized and existing under
the laws of Delaware (the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person
under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay
to Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as
Institutional Trustee for Maiden Capital Financing Statutory Trust (the
“Holder”) or registered assigns, the principal sum of [____________] dollars
($[_________]) on January 15, 2039, and to pay interest on said principal sum
from January 20, 2009, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined
herein) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject
to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and
October 15 of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next
succeeding Business Day (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing
on the Interest Payment Date in April, 2009, at an annual rate equal to the
Interest Rate, applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal
hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment, and on any
overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of
such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of
interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each
applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due
until they are paid or made available for payment. The amount of
interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
of twelve 30-day months. The interest installment so payable, and
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be fifteen
days prior to the day on which the relevant Interest Payment Date
occurs. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly
provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular
record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one
or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a
special record date.
Capitalized
terms used and not defined in this Debenture shall have the meanings assigned in
the Indenture dated as of the date of original issuance of this Debenture
between the Trustee and the Company.
“Interest
Rate” means 14%.
The
Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the
maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by
United States law.
All
percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded,
if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with
five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or
..09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used
in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with
one-half cent being rounded upward)).
The
principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or
agency of the Trustee (or other paying agent appointed by the Company)
maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of
America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts; provided, however, that payment
of interest may be made by check mailed to the registered holder at such address
as shall appear in the Debenture Register if a request for a wire transfer by
such holder has not been received by the Company or by wire transfer to an
account appropriately designated by the holder
hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this
Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and
interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such
place and to such account as may be designated by the Trustee.
So long
as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have
the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer
payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period
on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the
Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended
interest payment period, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Period
no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any
Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may
end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an
Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and
interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the
Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the
date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period,
to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “Additional
Interest”). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall
pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with
Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no
Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further, however, that during
any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any
Affiliate of the Company controlled by the Company to engage in any of the
activities or transactions described on the reverse side hereof and in the
Indenture. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the
Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with
all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed
20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity
Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the
payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company
may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing
requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and
payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each
installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during an
Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest to the extent permitted by
applicable law. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its
election to begin or extend an Extension Period at least 5 Business Days prior
to the regular record date (as such term is used in Section 2.8 of the
Indenture) immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date with respect to which
interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to
begin or extend an Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of
the Company’s election to begin a new Extension Period to the holders of the
Debentures.
The
indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in the
Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in
full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject to the
provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this
Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to
take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate
the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof,
by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of
the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each
holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred,
and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.
This
Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate
of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the
Trustee.
The
provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side hereof and such
provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth
at this place.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate.
MAIDEN
HOLDINGS NORTH AMERICA, LTD.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
This is
one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture.
[FORM OF
REVERSE OF DEBENTURE]
This
Debenture is one of the fixed rate subordinated deferrable interest debentures
of the Company, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture
dated as of January 20, 2009 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered
between the Company and the Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made
for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the
Debentures. The Debentures are limited in aggregate principal amount
as specified in the Indenture.
Upon the
occurrence and continuation of a Special Event, the Company shall have the right
to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment
Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, at the
Special Redemption Price.
In
addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or
in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of
$1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date, at the Optional Redemption
Price.
In
addition, the Company shall be required to purchase all or part of the
Debentures, in a principal amount with multiples of $1,000.00, on a Change of
Control Purchase Date, at the Optional Redemption Price.
Prior to
10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Optional Redemption Date, Special
Redemption Date or Change of Control Purchase Date, as applicable, the Company
will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of
money sufficient to redeem or purchase on the Optional Redemption Date, the
Special Redemption Date or the Change of Control Purchase Date, as applicable,
all the Debentures so called for redemption or purchase at the appropriate
Optional Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.
If all,
or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the
Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days prior to the Optional
Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate
principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed, and the Trustee shall redeem the
Debentures pro rata (in integral multiples of $1,000.00).
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any redemption or purchase of Debentures by the Company shall be
subject to the receipt of any and all required regulatory
approvals.
In case
an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon demand of the
Trustee, the principal of all of the Debentures shall become due and payable in
the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the
Indenture.
The
Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the
consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Debentures at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental 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 any supplemental
indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the
Debentures; provided, however, that no such
supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each
Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed
maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium
thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon,
or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof
or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than
that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any
Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of
repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the
aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent
to any such supplemental indenture.
The
Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding on behalf
of the holders of all of the Debentures to waive (or modify any previously
granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences,
except an Event of Default (a) specified in Sections 5.1(a) and (b), (b) in
respect of covenants or provisions hereof or of the Indenture which cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture
affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9
of the Indenture; provided, however, that if the
Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such waiver or
modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a
majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities shall have consented to
such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further, that if the
consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver
shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities shall have
consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered
thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of the Indenture and the
Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to
their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver
shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair
any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of
Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by the Indenture, said
default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and the
Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.
No
reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the
Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute
and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest,
including Additional Interest, on this Debenture at the time and place and at
the rate and in the money herein prescribed.
The
Company has agreed that if Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a
trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the
Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and
(i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii)
the dollar amount of the Company’s premium volume from insurance policies in any
calendar year fails to exceed 51% of the Company’s premium volume from insurance
policies in the previous calendar year; (iii) the Company sells more than 51% of
its rights to renew insurance policies in any single transaction or series of
related transactions; (iv) any Significant Subsidiary (as defined in
Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X to the Securities Act (the “Significant
Subsidiaries”)) of the Company which is rated by A.M. Best Company, Inc. (x)
receives a rating from A.M. Best Company Inc. of B- or lower; or (y) submits a
request to withdraw its rating by A.M. Best Company, Inc.; (v) the Company
shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the
Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice
of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the
interest payment period as provided herein and such Extension Period, or any
extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall
not permit any Affiliate of the Company controlled by the Company to,
(x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s or
such Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or
distributions to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) or make any
guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing, (y) make any payment of
principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities or other debt obligations of the Company or any Affiliate of
the Company controlled by the Company that rank pari passu in all respects
with or junior in interest to the Debentures or (z) enter into, amend or modify
any contracts with shareholders holding more than 10% of the outstanding shares
of common stock of the Company that could require cash payments by the Company
to such shareholder (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above,
(1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital
stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with any
employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the
benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in
connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in
connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company or of such
Subsidiary (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital
stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the
applicable Extension Period, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion
of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a
Subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital
stock (or in the case of a Subsidiary of the Company, any class or series of
such Subsidiary’s capital stock) or of any class or series of the Company’s
indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or in the
case of indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Company, of any class or series of
such Subsidiary’s indebtedness or any class or series of such Subsidiary’s
capital stock), (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Company’s capital stock (or the capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Company)
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock
or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of
stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock
issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same
stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to
such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in
connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital Securities
Guarantee; and other than, with respect to clause (z) above, (A) any reinsurance
or other risk transfer, producer, intermediary, claims management, underwriting,
investment management, administrative or services agreement between (i) an
insurance company Affiliate of the Company and (ii) the Parent or a Maiden BDA
Company, so long as such agreement has been approved or is permitted as an
agreement with an affiliate by the governmental authority that regulates
insurance companies in the jurisdiction in which such insurance company
subsidiary of the Company is domiciled or the laws of such domiciliary
jurisdiction, or (B) any producer, intermediary, claims management,
underwriting, investment management, administrative or services agreement
between (i) the Company or one of its non-insurance company Affiliates and (ii)
a Maiden BDA Company, so long as such agreement is on terms no less favorable to
the Company or its non-insurance company Affiliate than arm’s-length
terms).
The
Debentures are issuable only in registered, certificated form without coupons
and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in
excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the
transfer restrictions and limitations as may be contained herein and therein
from time to time, this Debenture is transferable by the holder hereof on the
Debenture Register of the Company. Upon due presentment for
registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee
or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as
provided in Section 3.2 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, the
Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the
transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal
amount. All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for
exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to, the Company and
the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his
attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made
for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or
the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or
other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
therewith.
Prior to
due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the
Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any
Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be
registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute
owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the
purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the
Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor
any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice
to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time
being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so
paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon
any such Debenture.
The
Debentures are in registered form within the meaning of Treasury Regulations
Section 1.871-14(c)(1)(i) for U.S. federal income and withholding tax
purposes.
No
recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on
any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof,
and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the
Company in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such
Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby,
shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or
director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor
Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor
Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of
law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being
expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and
released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the
Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.
PURSUANT
TO SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
THE INDENTURE AND THIS DEBENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
GUARANTEE
AGREEMENT
by
and between
MAIDEN
HOLDINGS, LTD.
and
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY
Dated
as of January 20, 2009
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Page
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ARTICLE
I
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DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
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1
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Section
1.1
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Definitions
and Interpretation
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1
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ARTICLE
II
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POWERS,
DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
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6
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Section
2.1
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Powers
and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee
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6
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Section
2.2
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Certain
Rights of the Guarantee Trustee
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7
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Section
2.3
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Not
Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee
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9
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Section
2.4
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Events
of Default; Waiver
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9
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Section
2.5
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Events
of Default; Notice
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9
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ARTICLE
III
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GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE
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10
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Section
3.1
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Guarantee
Trustee; Eligibility
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10
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Section
3.2
|
Appointment,
Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee
|
10
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
GUARANTEE
|
11
|
|
|
|
Section
4.1
|
Guarantee
|
11
|
|
|
|
Section
4.2
|
Waiver
of Notice and Demand
|
12
|
|
|
|
Section
4.3
|
Obligations
Not Affected
|
12
|
|
|
|
Section
4.4
|
Rights
of Holders
|
13
|
|
|
|
Section
4.5
|
Guarantee
of Payment
|
13
|
|
|
|
Section
4.6
|
Subrogation
|
13
|
|
|
|
Section
4.7
|
Independent
Obligations
|
13
|
|
|
|
Section
4.8
|
Enforcement
by a Beneficiary
|
14
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
V
|
SUBORDINATION
|
14
|
|
|
|
Section
5.1
|
Limitation
of Transactions
|
14
|
|
|
|
Section
5.2
|
Ranking
|
15
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
TERMINATION
|
16
|
|
|
|
Section 6.1
|
Termination
|
16
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
INDEMNIFICATION
|
16
|
|
|
|
Section 7.1
|
Exculpation
|
16
|
|
|
|
Section 7.2
|
Indemnification
|
16
|
|
|
|
Section 7.3
|
Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses
|
17
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
18
|
|
|
|
Section 8.1
|
Successors and Assigns
|
18
|
|
|
|
Section 8.2
|
Amendments
|
18
|
|
|
|
Section 8.3
|
Notices
|
18
|
|
|
|
Section 8.4
|
Benefit
|
19
|
|
|
|
Section 8.5
|
Governing Law
|
19
|
|
|
|
Section 8.6
|
Counterparts
|
19
|
|
|
|
Section 8.7
|
Separability
|
19
|
GUARANTEE
AGREEMENT
This
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this “Guarantee”), dated as
of January 20, 2009, is executed and delivered by Maiden Holdings, Ltd., a
company organized under the laws of Bermuda (the “Guarantor”), and
Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the “Guarantee Trustee”),
for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the
Capital Securities (as defined herein) of Maiden Capital Financing Trust, a
Delaware statutory trust (the “Issuer”).
WHEREAS,
pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”), dated
as of the date hereof among Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual
capacity but solely as institutional trustee, the administrators of the Issuer
named therein, Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), as
sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof those
undivided beneficial interests, having an aggregate liquidation amount of
$260,000,000.00 (the “Capital Securities”);
and
WHEREAS,
as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities, the Company is
entering into a Guarantee Agreement (the “Company Guarantee”)
with the Guarantee Trustee by which the Company irrevocably and unconditionally
agreed, to the extent set forth in the Company Guarantee, to pay to the Holders
of Capital Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined therein) and to make
certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth
therein;
WHEREAS,
as a further incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities, the
Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set
forth in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital Securities the
Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the
terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of the Capital
Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the
Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of
the Holders.
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
Section
1.1 Definitions and
Interpretation.
In this
Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized
terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the
respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1;
(b) a
term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning
throughout;
(c) all
references to “the Guarantee” or “this Guarantee” are to this Guarantee as
modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all
references in this Guarantee to “Articles” or “Sections” are to Articles or
Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(e) terms
defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of this Guarantee have
the same meanings when used in this Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this
Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(f) a
reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
“Additional Junior
Indebtedness” means, without duplication and other than the obligations
under this Guarantee, (a) any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the
Guarantor, or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor, under debt securities (or
guarantees in respect of debt securities) initially issued on or after the date
of this Guarantee to any trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership or other
entity affiliated with the Company that is, directly or indirectly, a finance
subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company
Act of 1940) or other financing vehicle of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of
the Guarantor in connection with the issuance by that entity of preferred
securities, (b) other securities that are issued either junior and subordinate
to or on a pari passu
basis with the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee or (c) any
guarantees of the Guarantor in respect of the equity or other securities of any
entity referred to in clause (a).
“Affiliate” has the
same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
“Beneficiaries” means
any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter becomes indebted or
liable.
“Capital Securities”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Guarantee.
“Common Securities”
means the common securities issued by the Issuer to the Guarantor pursuant to
the Declaration.
“Corporate Trust
Office” means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate
trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this
Guarantee is located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
“Covered Person” means
any Holder of Capital Securities.
“Debentures” means the
debt securities of the Guarantor designated the Fixed Rate Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2039 held by the Institutional Trustee (as
defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
“Declaration Event of
Default” means an “Event of Default” as defined in the
Declaration.
“Event of Default” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
“Founders” means
George Karfunkel, Michael Karfunkel, any of their respective Affiliates and any
of their charitable or family trusts.
“Guarantee Payments”
means all of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the
Debentures, and all of the obligations of the Company to the Guarantee Trustee
under the Company Guarantee, including, without duplication, to the extent not
paid by the Issuer; with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by the Issuer or the Company: (i) any accrued and
unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) which are required to
be paid on such Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer shall have funds
available therefor, (ii) the Optional Redemption Price to the extent the
Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to any Capital Securities
called for redemption by the Issuer, (iii) the Special Redemption Price to
the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to Capital
Securities redeemed upon the occurrence of a Special Event, (iv) upon a
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of
the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the
Holders of the Capital Securities in exchange therefor as provided in the
Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and
all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of
payment, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, and
(b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution
to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the “Liquidation
Distribution”) and (v) the Change of Control Purchase Price (as
defined in the Declaration) to the extent the Issuer has funds available
therefor which is required to be paid with respect to any Capital Securities in
connection with a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture); and further
including, without duplication, with respect to the Company Guarantee, (I) the
assumption by the Company of any and all Obligations of the Issuer pursuant to
Section 4.1(b) of the Company Guarantee, and (II) the obligations of the
Company as to indemnification and compensation under Sections 7.2 and 7.3
of the Company Guarantee.
“Guarantee Trustee”
means Wilmington Trust Company, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this
Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee
Trustee.
“Guarantor” means
Maiden Holdings, Ltd. and each of its successors and assigns.
“Holder” means any
holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer, of any Capital
Securities and such term shall also refer to and include the holders of the
Debentures if the Debentures are distributed to holders of the Capital
Securities and in such a case the term “Holder of the Capital Securities” shall
also refer to a holder of the Debentures; provided, however, that, in
determining whether the Holders of the requisite percentage of Capital
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, “Holder”
shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
“Indemnified Person”
means the Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the Guarantee Trustee, or any
officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees,
representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee
Trustee.
“Indenture” means the
Indenture dated as of the date hereof between the Company and Wilmington Trust
Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee, and any indenture
supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the
institutional trustee of the Issuer.
“Issuer” has the
meaning set forth in the opening paragraph to this Guarantee.
“Liquidation
Distribution” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Guarantee
Payments” herein.
“Majority in liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities” means Holder(s) of outstanding Capital
Securities, voting together as a class, but separately from the holders of
Common Securities, of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount
(including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or
otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the
voting percentages are determined) of all Capital Securities then outstanding,
it being understood that if the Debentures are distributed to the holders of
the Capital Securities, such term shall mean the holders of more than
50% of the aggregate principal amount (including the amount that would be paid
on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the
date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of the
Debentures.
“Obligations” means
any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not including liabilities related to
taxes) of the Issuer other than obligations of the Issuer to pay to holders of
any Trust Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the
Trust Securities.
“Officer’s
Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by
one Authorized Officer of such Person. Any Officer’s Certificate delivered with
respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Guarantee shall include:
(a) a
statement that the officer signing the Officer’s Certificate has read the
covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a
brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation
undertaken by the officer in rendering the Officer’s Certificate;
(c) a
statement that the officer has made such examination or investigation as, in
such officer’s opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
complied with; and
(d) a
statement as to whether, in the opinion of the officer, such condition or
covenant has been complied with.
“Optional Redemption
Price” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“Person” means a legal
person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint
venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust,
unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
“Responsible Officer”
means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate
Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee including any Vice President, Assistant
Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any other officer of the
Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by
any of the above designated officers and also, with respect to a particular
corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred
because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.
“Senior Indebtedness”
means, with respect to the Guarantor, (i) the principal, premium, if any,
and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Guarantor for money
borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes,
bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Guarantor; (ii) all
capital lease obligations of the Guarantor; (iii) all obligations of the
Guarantor issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all
conditional sale obligations of the Guarantor and all obligations of the
Guarantor under any title retention agreement; (iv) all obligations of the
Guarantor for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker’s
acceptance, any security purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar
arrangement, any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any
obligation under options or any similar credit or other transaction;
(v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through
(iv) above of other Persons for the payment of which the Guarantor is
responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all
obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of
other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Guarantor
(whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Guarantor), whether incurred
on or prior to the date of this Guarantee Agreement or thereafter
incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Senior Indebtedness”
shall not include (1) any Additional Junior Indebtedness, (2) obligations of the
Guarantor in respect of the Debentures, (3) trade accounts payable of the
Guarantor arising in the ordinary course of business (such trade accounts
payable being pari passu in right of payment to the obligations under this
Guarantee), or (4) obligations with respect to which (a) in the instrument
creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it
is provided that such obligations are pari passu, junior or otherwise not
superior in right of payment to the obligations under this Guarantee and (b) the
Guarantor, prior to the issuance thereof, has, if required, notified the
relevant state insurance regulatory agency. Senior Indebtedness shall
continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination
provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of
such Senior Indebtedness.
“Special Event” has
the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“Special Redemption
Price” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“Subsidiary” means
with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of the
outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such
Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more
of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar
entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests
of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii)
any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a
general partner. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock”
means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity
interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for
the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person,
other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such
power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
“Successor Guarantee
Trustee” means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the
qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 3.1.
“Trust Securities”
means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities.
ARTICLE
II
POWERS,
DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE
GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE
Section
2.1 Powers and Duties of the
Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This
Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders
of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital Securities exercising his or
her rights pursuant to Section 4.4(b) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as
Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the
Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee,
and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If
an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities.
(c) The
Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall
undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee against
the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that
has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.4) and is actually known
to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee, and use
the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person
would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
(d) No
provision of this Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee
from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act,
or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior
to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all
such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the
duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by
the express provisions of this Guarantee, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee;
and
(B) in
the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions
furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any
provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to
determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this
Guarantee;
(ii) the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good
faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be
proved that such Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such
judgment was made;
(iii) the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the written direction
of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or relating to the exercise
of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee;
and
(iv) no
provision of this Guarantee shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing
that the repayment of such funds is not reasonably assured to it under the terms
of this Guarantee or security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the
Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to
it.
Section
2.2 Certain Rights of the
Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.1:
(i) The
Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting
or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the
proper party or parties.
(ii) Any
direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee shall be
sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate.
(iii) Whenever,
in the administration of this Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or
omitting any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
request and conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate of the Guarantor
which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the
Guarantor.
(iv) The
Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or
registration of any instrument (or any re-recording, refiling or re-registration
thereof).
(v) The
Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or
opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may
include any of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the
right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this
Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The
Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or
powers vested in it by this Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder,
unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security
and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the
costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and the expenses of the
Guarantee Trustee’s agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might
be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such
reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided, however, that nothing
contained in this Section 2.2(a)(vi) shall relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights
and powers vested in it by this Guarantee.
(vii) The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or
matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee,
in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such
facts or matters as it may see fit.
(viii) The
Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform
any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees,
custodians or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for
any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with
due care by it hereunder.
(ix) Any
action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the
Holders of the Capital Securities, and the signature of the Guarantee Trustee or
its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such
action. No third party shall be required to inquire as to the
authority of the Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of
the terms and provisions of this Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively
evidenced by the Guarantee Trustee’s or its agent’s taking such
action.
(x) Whenever
in the administration of this Guarantee the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right
or taking any other action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (i) may request
instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking
such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be
protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such
instructions.
(xi) The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted
to be taken by it in good faith, without negligence, and reasonably believed by
it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon
it by this Guarantee.
(b) No
provision of this Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on
the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power,
duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it
shall be illegal or in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or
incompetent in accordance with applicable law to perform any such act or acts or
to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive
power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a
duty.
Section
2.3 Not Responsible for Recitals
or Issuance of Guarantee.
The
recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the
Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for
their correctness. The Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as
to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee.
Section
2.4 Events of Default;
Waiver.
(a) An
Event of Default under this Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the
Guarantor to perform any of its payment or other obligations
hereunder.
(b) The
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may,
voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital
Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its
consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease
to exist, and shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this
Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or
Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section
2.5 Events of Default;
Notice.
(a) The
Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of
Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the
Capital Securities and the Guarantor, notices of all Events of Default actually
known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults
have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, however, that the
Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long
as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that
the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Capital
Securities.
(b) The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default
unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from the
Guarantor or a Holder of the Capital Securities (except in the case of a payment
default), or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the
administration of this Guarantee shall have obtained actual knowledge
thereof.
ARTICLE
III
GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE
Section
3.1 Guarantee Trustee;
Eligibility.
(a) There
shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not
be an Affiliate of the Guarantor, and
(ii) be
a banking corporation or national association organized and doing business under
the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of
the District of Columbia, or Person authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty
million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by
Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If
such corporation or national association publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining
authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 3.1(a)(ii),
the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or national association
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published.
(b) If
at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under
Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the
manner and with the effect set forth in Section 3.2(c).
(c) If
the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the
meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee
shall either eliminate such interest or resign to the extent and in the manner
provided by, and subject to this Guarantee.
Section
3.2 Appointment, Removal and
Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject
to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without
cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of
Default.
(b) The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 3.2(a) until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment
by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered
to the Guarantor.
(c) The
Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or
resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without
need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by
the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall
not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee
Trustee.
(d) If
no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted
appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60 days after
delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee
resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may
thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint
a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No
Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon
termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Guarantee Trustee
pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Guarantee Trustee
all amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee under Sections 7.2 and 7.3
accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE
IV
GUARANTEE
Section
4.1 Guarantee.
(a) The
Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders
the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the
Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense (except the defense of
payment by the Issuer), right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may
have or assert. The Guarantor’s obligation to make a Guarantee
Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the
Guarantor to the Holders, by causing the Company to make payments required to be
made to the Holders under the Company Guarantee, and the payments required to be
made to the Issuer, or if the Debentures have been distributed to the Holders of
Capital Securities, to the Holders, under the Indenture and the Debentures, or
by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
(b) The
Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all Obligations of the Issuer and
in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantees to each Beneficiary the full payment, when and as due, of any and all
Obligations to such Beneficiaries. This Guarantee is intended to be
for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or
not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.
Section
4.2 Waiver of Notice and
Demand.
The
Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee and of any
liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any
right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, the Company or any other
Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment,
notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and
demands.
Section
4.3 Obligations Not
Affected.
The
obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this
Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening
from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the
release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or
observance, (i) by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant,
term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be performed or observed
by the Issuer, or (ii) by the Company of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Company Guarantee to be performed or
observed by the Company;
(b) the
extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the
Distributions, Optional Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation
Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities
or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under,
arising out of or in connection with, the Capital Securities (other than an
extension of time for payment of Distributions, Optional Redemption Price,
Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that
results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or
any extension of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the
Indenture), or the extension of time for payment by the Company of all or any
portion of the obligations of the Company under the Company
Guarantee;
(c) any
failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to
enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on
the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities or the Company
Guarantee, or any action on the part of the Issuer or the Company granting
indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral,
receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors,
reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other
similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or the Company or any of the assets of
the Issuer or the Company;
(e) any
invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities, the
Indenture, the Debentures or the Company Guarantee;
(f) the
settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred;
or
(g) any
other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or
equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this
Section 4.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be
absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There
shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of,
the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
Section
4.4 Rights of
Holders.
(a) The
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities have the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee or to
direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee
under this Guarantee; provided, however, that
(subject to Section 2.1) the Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to
decline to follow any such direction if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by
counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be
taken or if the Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or
trustees, executive committees or a trust committee of directors or trustees
and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceedings so
directed would involve the Guarantee Trustee in personal liability.
(b) Any
Holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee’s rights under this Guarantee,
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other Person. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy
to require that any such action be brought first against the Issuer, the
Company, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person before so proceeding directly
against the Guarantor.
Section
4.5 Guarantee of
Payment.
This
Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
Section
4.6 Subrogation.
The
Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders of Capital
Securities against the Issuer and the Company in respect of any amounts paid to
such Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by applicable provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any such
payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. If any
amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence,
the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay
over such amount to the Holders.
Section
4.7 Independent
Obligations.
The
Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the
obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital Securities and the
obligations of the Company with respect to the Company Guarantee and that the
Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee
Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence
of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section
4.3 hereof.
Section
4.8 Enforcement by a
Beneficiary.
A
Beneficiary may enforce the obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section
4.1(b) directly against the Guarantor and the Guarantor waives any right or
remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer, the Company or
any other person or entity before proceeding against the
Guarantor. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any)
of any Beneficiary against the Issuer and the Company in respect of any amounts
paid to the Beneficiaries by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights that it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Guarantee, if at the time of any such payment,
and after giving effect to such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under
this Guarantee.
ARTICLE
V
SUBORDINATION
Section
5.1 Limitation of
Transactions.
So long
as any Capital Securities remain outstanding or, if the Debentures have been
distributed to the Holders of Capital Securities, so long as any Debentures
remain outstanding, if (a) there shall have occurred and be continuing an
Event of Default or a Declaration Event of Default or (b) the dollar amount of
the Guarantor’s premium volume from insurance policies in any calendar year
fails to exceed 51% of the Guarantor’s premium volume from insurance policies in
the previous calendar year, (c) the Guarantor sells more than 51% of its rights
to renew insurance policies in any single transaction or series of related
transactions, (d) any Significant Subsidiary (as defined in Section 1-02(w)
of Regulation S-X to the Securities Act (the “Significant
Subsidiaries”)) of the Guarantor which is rated by A.M. Best Company,
Inc. (x) receives a rating from A.M. Best Company, Inc. of B- or lower; or (y)
submits a request to withdraw its rating by A.M. Best Company, Inc., (e) the
Company shall have selected an Extension Period as provided in the Declaration
and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be
continuing, then the Guarantor shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate of
the Guarantor controlled by the Guarantor to (x) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor’s or such Affiliate’s
capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the
Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor) or make any guarantee payments with
respect to the foregoing; (y) make any payment of principal of or interest
or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the
Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor controlled by the Guarantor that
rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures; or (z) enter into any
contracts with shareholders holding more than 10% of the outstanding shares of
common stock of the Guarantor that could require cash payments by the Guarantor
to such shareholder (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above,
(i) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital
stock of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor in connection with any
employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the
benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in
connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in
connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor or of such
Subsidiary (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital
stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the
occurrence of the Event of Default, Declaration Event of Default or Extension
Period, as applicable, (ii) as a result of any exchange or conversion of
any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a
Subsidiary of the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital
stock (or in the case of a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, any class or series of
such Subsidiary’s capital stock) or of any class or series of the Guarantor’s
indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock (or in the
case of indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, of any class or series of
such Subsidiary’s indebtedness for any class or series of such Subsidiary’s
capital stock), (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Guarantor’s capital stock (or the capital stock of a Subsidiary of the
Guarantor) pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital
stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) any declaration of
a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (v) any dividend in
the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or
the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is
the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to
such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in
connection therewith, or (vi) payments under this
Guarantee).
Section
5.2 Ranking.
This
Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior
Indebtedness of the Guarantor. By their acceptance thereof, each
Holder of Capital Securities agrees to the foregoing provisions of this
Guarantee and the other terms set forth herein.
The right
of the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its
Subsidiaries upon any such Subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or
otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that Subsidiary, except
to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of that
Subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor’s obligations under this
Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Guarantor’s Subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to
the assets of the Guarantor for payments hereunder. This Guarantee
does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of
the Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any
indenture that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or
otherwise.
ARTICLE
VI
TERMINATION
Section
6.1 Termination.
This
Guarantee shall terminate (subject to the remaining provisions of this Section
6.1) as to the Capital Securities (i) upon full payment of the Optional
Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price of all Capital Securities then
outstanding, or (ii) upon the distribution of all of the Debentures to the
Holders of all of the Capital Securities. This Guarantee will
continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any Holder of Capital Securities must restore payment of any sums paid
under the Capital Securities or under this
Guarantee.. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case the Debentures
are distributed to the holders of Capital Securities, this Guarantee will
continue as to the obligations hereunder with respect to the Indenture and the
Debentures until all such obligations have been discharged.
ARTICLE
VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
7.1 Exculpation.
(a) No
Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or
otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Guarantee and in a
manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope
of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Guarantee or by
law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage
or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person’s negligence or willful
misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An
Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the
records of the Issuer, the Company or the Guarantor and upon such information,
opinions, reports or statements presented to the Issuer, the Company or the
Guarantor by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes
are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence and who, if
selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected with reasonable care by
such Indemnified Person, including information, opinions, reports or statements
as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any
other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which
Distributions to Holders of Capital Securities might properly be
paid.
Section
7.2 Indemnification.
(a) The
Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each
Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim
or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the
Indemnified Person, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including, but not limited to,
the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of the
Indemnified Person defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the
Indemnified Person’s powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to
indemnify as set forth in this Section 7.2 shall survive the resignation or
removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this
Guarantee.
(b) Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 7.2 of notice of
the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against the Guarantor under this Section 7.2,
notify the Guarantor in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so
to notify the Guarantor (i) will not relieve the Guarantor from liability
under paragraph (a) above unless and to the extent that the Guarantor did
not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by
the Guarantor of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the Guarantor from any obligations to any Indemnified Person
other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a)
above. The Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the
Guarantor’s choice at the Guarantor’s expense to represent the Indemnified
Person in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the
Guarantor shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any
separate counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Persons except as set
forth below); provided, however, that such
counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the
Guarantor’s election to appoint counsel to represent the Guarantor in an action,
the Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel
(including local counsel), and the Guarantor shall bear the reasonable fees,
costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel
chosen by the Guarantor to represent the Indemnified Person would present such
counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential
defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified
Person and the Guarantor and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably
concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other
Indemnified Person(s) which are different from or additional to those available
to the Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person
within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or
(iv) the Guarantor shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ
separate counsel at the expense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor will
not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Persons, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending
or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
Indemnified Persons are actual or potential parties to such claim or action)
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release
of each Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such claim, action,
suit or proceeding.
Section
7.3 Compensation; Reimbursement
of Expenses.
The
Guarantor agrees:
(a) to
pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such compensation for all
services rendered by it hereunder as the parties shall agree to from time to
time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard
to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and
(b) except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon
request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made
by it in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee (including the
reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and
counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct.
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
8.1 Successors and
Assigns.
All
guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall bind the successors,
assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall
inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities then
outstanding. The Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its
obligations under this Guarantee without the prior approval of the Holders of at
least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities and the Holders
of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities that are
not Founders.
Section
8.2 Amendments.
Except
with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights of Holders
of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which case no consent of
Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended only with the prior
approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities and the Guarantor. The provisions of the
Declaration with respect to amendments thereof apply to the giving of such
approval.
Section
8.3 Notices.
All
notices provided for in this Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the
party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first
class mail, as follows:
(a) If
given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee’s mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice of
to the Holders of the Capital Securities and the Guarantor):
Wilmington
Trust Company
1100
North Market Street
Wilmington,
Delaware 19890-1600
Attention:
Corporate Trust Administration
Telecopy: 302-636-4140
(b) If
given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor’s mailing address set forth below (or
such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the
Capital Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee):
Maiden
Holdings, Ltd.
48
Par-la-Ville Road, Suite 1141
Hamilton
HM11
Bermuda
Attention:
Michael Tait
Telecopy:
(441) 292-0471
(c) If
given to any Holder of the Capital Securities, at the address set forth on the
books and records of the Issuer.
All such
notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied
with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except
that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered
because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other
document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or
inability to deliver.
Section
8.4 Benefit.
This
Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Beneficiaries and, subject to Section
2.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities.
Section
8.5 Governing
Law.
PURSUANT
TO SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THIS
GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section
8.6 Counterparts.
This
Guarantee may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be an
original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
Section
8.7 Separability.
In case
one or more of the provisions contained in this Guarantee shall for any reason
be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this
Guarantee, but this Guarantee shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal
or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
Signatures
appear on the following page
THIS
GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written.
MAIDEN
HOLDINGS, LTD.,
|
as
Guarantor
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Michael
Tait
|
|
Name:
Michael Tait
|
|
Title:
Chief Financial
Officer
|
|
|
WILMINGTON TRUST
COMPANY, as
Guarantee
Trustee
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Christopher J.
Slaybaugh
|
|
Name:
Christopher J.
Slaybaugh
|
|
Title:
Assistant Vice
President
|
by
and between
MAIDEN
HOLDINGS NORTH AMERICA, LTD.
and
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY
Dated
as of January 20, 2009
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE
I
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DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
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1
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Section
1.1
|
Definitions
and Interpretation
|
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1
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|
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ARTICLE
II
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POWERS,
DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
|
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5
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Section
2.1
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Powers
and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee
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5
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Section
2.2
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Certain
Rights of the Guarantee Trustee
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6
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Section
2.3
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Not
Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee
|
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8
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Section
2.4
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Events
of Default; Waiver
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8
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Section
2.5
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Events
of Default; Notice
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8
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|
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ARTICLE
III
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GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE
|
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9
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Section
3.1
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Guarantee
Trustee; Eligibility
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9
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Section
3.2
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Appointment,
Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee
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9
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ARTICLE
IV
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GUARANTEE
|
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10
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Section
4.1
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Guarantee
|
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10
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Section
4.2
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Waiver
of Notice and Demand
|
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10
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Section
4.3
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Obligations
Not Affected
|
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10
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Section
4.4
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Rights
of Holders
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11
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Section
4.5
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Guarantee
of Payment
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12
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Section
4.6
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Subrogation
|
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12
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Section
4.7
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Independent
Obligations
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12
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Section
4.8
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Enforcement
by a Beneficiary
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12
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ARTICLE
V
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LIMITATION
OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
|
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13
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Section
5.1
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Limitation
of Transactions
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13
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Section
5.2
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Ranking
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14
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ARTICLE
VI
|
TERMINATION
|
|
14
|
Section
6.1
|
Termination
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
INDEMNIFICATION
|
|
15
|
Section
7.1
|
Exculpation
|
|
15
|
Section
7.2
|
Indemnification
|
|
15
|
Section
7.3
|
Compensation;
Reimbursement of Expenses
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
17
|
Section
8.1
|
Successors
and Assigns
|
|
17
|
Section
8.2
|
Amendments
|
|
17
|
Section
8.3
|
Notices
|
|
17
|
Section
8.4
|
Benefit
|
|
18
|
Section
8.5
|
Governing
Law
|
|
18
|
Section
8.6
|
Counterparts
|
|
18
|
Section
8.7
|
Separability
|
|
18
|
GUARANTEE
AGREEMENT
This
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this “Guarantee”), dated as
of January 20, 2009, is executed and delivered by Maiden Holdings North America,
Ltd., a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), and
Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the “Guarantee Trustee”),
for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the
Capital Securities (as defined herein) of Maiden Capital Financing Trust, a
Delaware statutory trust (the “Issuer”).
WHEREAS,
pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”), dated
as of the date hereof among Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual
capacity but solely as institutional trustee, the administrators of the Issuer
named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is
issuing on the date hereof those undivided beneficial interests, having an
aggregate liquidation amount of $260,000,000.00 (the “Capital Securities”);
and
WHEREAS,
as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities, the Guarantor
desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in
this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital Securities the Guarantee
Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and
conditions set forth herein;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of the Capital
Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the
Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of
the Holders.
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1
Definitions and
Interpretation.
In this
Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized
terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the
respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1;
(b) a
term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning
throughout;
(c) all
references to “the Guarantee” or “this Guarantee” are to this Guarantee as
modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all
references in this Guarantee to “Articles” or “Sections” are to Articles or
Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(e) terms
defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of this Guarantee have
the same meanings when used in this Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this
Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(f) a
reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
“Affiliate” has the
same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
“Beneficiaries” means
any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter becomes indebted or
liable.
“Capital Securities”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Guarantee.
“Common Securities”
means the common securities issued by the Issuer to the Guarantor pursuant to
the Declaration.
“Corporate Trust
Office” means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate
trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this
Guarantee is located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
“Covered Person” means
any Holder of Capital Securities.
“Debentures” means the
debt securities of the Guarantor designated the Fixed Rate Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2039 held by the Institutional Trustee (as
defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
“Declaration Event of
Default” means an “Event of Default” as defined in the
Declaration.
“Event of Default” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
“Founders” means
George Karfunkel, Michael Karfunkel, any of their respective Affiliates and any
of their charitable or family trusts.
“Guarantee Payments”
means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect
to the Capital Securities, to the extent not paid or made by the
Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined in
the Declaration) which are required to be paid on such Capital Securities
to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the
Optional Redemption Price to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor,
with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer,
(iii) the Special Redemption Price to the extent the Issuer has funds
available therefor, with respect to Capital Securities redeemed upon the
occurrence of a Special Event, (iv) upon a voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in
connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders of the Capital
Securities in exchange therefor as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of
(a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid
Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the extent
the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, and (b) the amount of
assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in
liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the “Liquidation
Distribution”), and (v) the Change of Control Purchase Price (as
defined in the Declaration) to the extent the Issuer has funds available
therefor which is required to be paid with respect to any Capital Securities in
connection with a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture).
“Guarantee Trustee”
means Wilmington Trust Company, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this
Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee
Trustee.
“Guarantor” means
Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. and each of its successors and
assigns.
“Holder” means any
holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer, of any Capital
Securities; provided, however, that, in
determining whether the Holders of the requisite percentage of Capital
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, “Holder”
shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
“Indemnified Person”
means the Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the Guarantee Trustee, or any
officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees,
representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee
Trustee.
“Indenture” means the
Indenture dated as of the date hereof between the Guarantor and Wilmington Trust
Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee, and any indenture
supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the
institutional trustee of the Issuer.
“Issuer” has the
meaning set forth in the opening paragraph to this Guarantee.
“Liquidation
Distribution” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Guarantee
Payments” herein.
“Majority in liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities” means Holder(s) of outstanding Capital
Securities, voting together as a class, but separately from the holders of
Common Securities, of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount
(including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or
otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the
voting percentages are determined) of all Capital Securities then
outstanding.
“Obligations” means
any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not including liabilities related to
taxes) of the Issuer other than obligations of the Issuer to pay to holders of
any Trust Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the
Trust Securities.
“Officer’s
Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by
one Authorized Officer of such Person. Any Officer’s Certificate delivered with
respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Guarantee shall include:
(a) a
statement that the officer signing the Officer’s Certificate has read the
covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a
brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation
undertaken by the officer in rendering the Officer’s Certificate;
(c) a
statement that the officer has made such examination or investigation as, in
such officer’s opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
complied with; and
(d) a
statement as to whether, in the opinion of the officer, such condition or
covenant has been complied with.
“Optional Redemption
Price” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“Person” means a legal
person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint
venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust,
unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
“Responsible Officer”
means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate
Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee including any Vice President, Assistant
Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any other officer of the
Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by
any of the above designated officers and also, with respect to a particular
corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred
because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.
“Special Event” has
the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“Special Redemption
Price” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“Subsidiary” means
with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of the
outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such
Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more
of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar
entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests
of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii)
any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a
general partner. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock”
means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity
interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for
the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person,
other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such
power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
“Successor Guarantee
Trustee” means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the
qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 3.1.
“Trust Securities”
means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities.
ARTICLE
II
POWERS,
DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE
GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE
Section
2.1 Powers and Duties of the
Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This
Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders
of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital Securities exercising his or
her rights pursuant to Section 4.4(b) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as
Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the
Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee,
and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If
an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities.
(c) The
Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall
undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee against
the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that
has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.4) and is actually known
to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee, and use
the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person
would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
(d) No
provision of this Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee
from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act,
or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior
to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all
such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the
duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by
the express provisions of this Guarantee, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee;
and
(B) in
the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions
furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any
provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to
determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this
Guarantee;
(ii) the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good
faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be
proved that such Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such
judgment was made;
(iii) the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the written direction
of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or relating to the exercise
of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee;
and
(iv) no
provision of this Guarantee shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing
that the repayment of such funds is not reasonably assured to it under the terms
of this Guarantee or security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the
Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to
it.
Section
2.2 Certain Rights of the
Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.1:
(i)
The Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in
acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the
proper party or parties.
(ii) Any
direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee shall be
sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate.
(iii) Whenever,
in the administration of this Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or
omitting any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
request and conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate of the Guarantor
which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the
Guarantor.
(iv) The
Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or
registration of any instrument (or any re-recording, refiling or re-registration
thereof).
(v) The
Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or
opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may
include any of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the
right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this
Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The
Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or
powers vested in it by this Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder,
unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security
and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the
costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and the expenses of the
Guarantee Trustee’s agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might
be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such
reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided, however, that nothing
contained in this Section 2.2(a)(vi) shall relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights
and powers vested in it by this Guarantee.
(vii) The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or
matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee,
in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such
facts or matters as it may see fit.
(viii) The
Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform
any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees,
custodians or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for
any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with
due care by it hereunder.
(ix) Any
action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the
Holders of the Capital Securities, and the signature of the Guarantee Trustee or
its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such
action. No third party shall be required to inquire as to the
authority of the Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of
the terms and provisions of this Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively
evidenced by the Guarantee Trustee’s or its agent’s taking such
action.
(x) Whenever
in the administration of this Guarantee the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right
or taking any other action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (i) may request
instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking
such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be
protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such
instructions.
(xi) The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted
to be taken by it in good faith, without negligence, and reasonably believed by
it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon
it by this Guarantee.
(b) No
provision of this Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on
the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power,
duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it
shall be illegal or in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or
incompetent in accordance with applicable law to perform any such act or acts or
to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive
power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a
duty.
Section
2.3 Not Responsible for Recitals
or Issuance of Guarantee.
The
recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the
Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for
their correctness. The Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as
to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee.
Section
2.4 Events of Default;
Waiver.
(a) An
Event of Default under this Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the
Guarantor to perform any of its payment or other obligations
hereunder.
(b) The
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may,
voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital
Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its
consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease
to exist, and shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this
Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or
Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section
2.5 Events of Default;
Notice.
(a) The
Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of
Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the
Capital Securities and the Guarantor, notices of all Events of Default actually
known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults
have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, however, that the
Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long
as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that
the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Capital
Securities.
(b) The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default
unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from the
Guarantor or a Holder of the Capital Securities (except in the case of a payment
default), or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the
administration of this Guarantee shall have obtained actual knowledge
thereof.
ARTICLE
III
GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE
Section
3.1 Guarantee Trustee;
Eligibility.
(a) There
shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not
be an Affiliate of the Guarantor, and
(ii) be
a banking corporation or national association organized and doing business under
the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of
the District of Columbia, or Person authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty
million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by
Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If
such corporation or national association publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining
authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 3.1(a)(ii),
the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or national association
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published.
(b) If
at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under
Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the
manner and with the effect set forth in Section 3.2(c).
(c) If
the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the
meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee
shall either eliminate such interest or resign to the extent and in the manner
provided by, and subject to this Guarantee.
Section
3.2 Appointment, Removal and
Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject
to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without
cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of
Default.
(b) The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 3.2(a) until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment
by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered
to the Guarantor.
(c) The
Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or
resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without
need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by
the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall
not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee
Trustee.
(d) If
no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted
appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60 days after
delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee
resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may
thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint
a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No
Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon
termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Guarantee Trustee
pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Guarantee Trustee
all amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee under Sections 7.2 and 7.3
accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE
IV
GUARANTEE
Section
4.1 Guarantee.
(a) The
Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders
the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the
Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense (except the defense of
payment by the Issuer), right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may
have or assert. The Guarantor’s obligation to make a Guarantee
Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the
Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the
Holders.
(b) The
Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all Obligations of the Issuer and
in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantees to each Beneficiary the full payment, when and as due, of any and all
Obligations to such Beneficiaries. This Guarantee is intended to be
for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or
not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.
Section
4.2 Waiver of Notice and
Demand.
The
Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee and of any
liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any
right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person
before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice
of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and
demands.
Section
4.3 Obligations Not
Affected.
The
obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this
Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening
from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the
release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or
observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or
condition relating to the Capital Securities to be performed or observed by the
Issuer;
(b) the
extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the
Distributions, Optional Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation
Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities
or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under,
arising out of or in connection with, the Capital Securities (other than an
extension of time for payment of Distributions, Optional Redemption Price,
Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that
results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or
any extension of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the
Indenture);
(c) any
failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to
enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on
the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any action on
the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any
kind;
(d) the
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral,
receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors,
reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other
similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the
Issuer;
(e) any
invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities;
(f) the
settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred;
or
(g) any
other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or
equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this
Section 4.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be
absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There
shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of,
the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
Section
4.4 Rights of
Holders.
(a) The
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities have the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee or to
direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee
under this Guarantee; provided, however, that
(subject to Section 2.1) the Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to
decline to follow any such direction if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by
counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be
taken or if the Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or
trustees, executive committees or a trust committee of directors or trustees
and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceedings so
directed would involve the Guarantee Trustee in personal liability.
(b) Any
Holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee’s rights under this Guarantee,
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other Person. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy
to require that any such action be brought first against the Issuer, the
Guarantee Trustee or any other Person before so proceeding directly against the
Guarantor.
Section
4.5 Guarantee of
Payment.
This
Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
Section
4.6 Subrogation.
The
Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders of Capital
Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by
the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by applicable provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any such
payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. If any
amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence,
the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay
over such amount to the Holders.
Section
4.7 Independent
Obligations.
The
Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the
obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital Securities and that the
Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee
Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence
of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section
4.3 hereof.
Section
4.8 Enforcement by a
Beneficiary.
A
Beneficiary may enforce the obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section
4.1(b) directly against the Guarantor and the Guarantor waives any right or
remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer or any other
person or entity before proceeding against the Guarantor. The
Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of any Beneficiary against
the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Beneficiaries by the Guarantor
under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights that it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Guarantee, if at the time of any such payment,
and after giving effect to such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under
this Guarantee.
ARTICLE
V
LIMITATION
OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
Section
5.1 Limitation of
Transactions.
So long
as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there shall have
occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or a Declaration Event of Default
or (b) the dollar amount of the Guarantor’s premium volume from insurance
policies in any calendar year fails to exceed 51% of the Guarantor’s premium
volume from insurance policies in the previous calendar year, (c) the Guarantor
sells more than 51% of its rights to renew insurance policies in any single
transaction or series of related transactions, (d) any Significant Subsidiary
(as defined in Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X to the Securities Act (the
“Significant
Subsidiaries”)) of the Guarantor which is rated by A.M. Best Company,
Inc. (x) receives a rating from A.M. Best Guarantor Inc. of B- or lower; or (y)
submits a request to withdraw its rating by A.M. Best Guarantor, Inc., (e) the
Guarantor shall have selected an Extension Period as provided in the Declaration
and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be
continuing, then the Guarantor shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate of
the Guarantor controlled by the Guarantor to (x) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor’s or such Affiliate’s
capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the
Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor) or make any guarantee payments with
respect to the foregoing; (y) make any payment of principal of or interest
or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the
Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor controlled by the Guarantor that
rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures; or (z) enter into any
contracts with shareholders holding more than 10% of the outstanding shares of
common stock of the Guarantor that could require cash payments by the Guarantor
to such shareholder (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above,
(i) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital
stock of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor in connection with any
employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the
benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in
connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in
connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor or of such
Subsidiary (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital
stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the
occurrence of the Event of Default, Declaration Event of Default or Extension
Period, as applicable, (ii) as a result of any exchange or conversion of
any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a
Subsidiary of the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital
stock (or in the case of a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, any class or series of
such Subsidiary’s capital stock) or of any class or series of the Guarantor’s
indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock (or in the
case of indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, of any class or series of
such Subsidiary’s indebtedness for any class or series of such Subsidiary’s
capital stock), (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Guarantor’s capital stock (or the capital stock of a Subsidiary of the
Guarantor) pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital
stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) any declaration of
a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (v) any dividend in
the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or
the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is
the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to
such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in
connection therewith, or (vi) payments under this Guarantee; and other
than, with respect to clause (z) above, (I) any reinsurance or other risk
transfer, producer, intermediary, claims management, underwriting, investment
management, administrative or services agreement between (A) an insurance
company Affiliate of the Guarantor and (B) Maiden Holdings, Ltd., a company
organized under the laws of Bermuda (“Maiden BDA”), or one
of its subsidiaries that is not a subsidiary of the Guarantor (a "Maiden BDA Company"),
so long as such agreement has been approved or is permitted as an agreement with
an affiliate by the governmental authority that regulates insurance companies in
the jurisdiction in which such insurance company subsidiary of the Guarantor is
domiciled or the laws of such domiciliary jurisdiction, or (II) any producer,
intermediary, claims management, underwriting, investment management,
administrative or services agreement between (I) the Guarantor or one of its
non-insurance company Affiliates and (II) a Maiden BDA Company, so long as such
agreement is on terms no less favorable to the Guarantor or its non-insurance
company Affiliate than arm’s-length terms.).
Section
5.2 Ranking.
This
Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior
Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor. By their
acceptance thereof, each Holder of Capital Securities agrees to the foregoing
provisions of this Guarantee and the other terms set forth herein.
The right
of the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its
Subsidiaries upon any such Subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or
otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that Subsidiary, except
to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of that
Subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor’s obligations under this
Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Guarantor’s Subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to
the assets of the Guarantor for payments hereunder. This Guarantee
does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of
the Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any
indenture that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or
otherwise.
ARTICLE
VI
TERMINATION
Section
6.1 Termination.
This
Guarantee shall terminate as to the Capital Securities (i) upon full
payment of the Optional Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price of all
Capital Securities then outstanding, (ii) upon the distribution of all of
the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Capital Securities or
(iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the
Declaration upon dissolution of the Issuer. This Guarantee will
continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any Holder of Capital Securities must restore payment of any sums paid
under the Capital Securities or under this Guarantee.
ARTICLE
VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
7.1 Exculpation.
(a) No
Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or
otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Guarantee and in a
manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope
of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Guarantee or by
law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage
or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person’s negligence or willful
misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An
Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the
records of the Issuer or the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Issuer or the Guarantor by any Person as
to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other
Person’s professional or expert competence and who, if selected by such
Indemnified Person, has been selected with reasonable care by such Indemnified
Person, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value
and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts
pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to
Holders of Capital Securities might properly be paid.
Section
7.2 Indemnification.
(a) The
Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each
Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim
or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the
Indemnified Person, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including, but not limited to,
the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of the
Indemnified Person defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the
Indemnified Person’s powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to
indemnify as set forth in this Section 7.2 shall survive the resignation or
removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this
Guarantee.
(b) Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 7.2 of notice of
the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against the Guarantor under this Section 7.2,
notify the Guarantor in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so
to notify the Guarantor (i) will not relieve the Guarantor from liability
under paragraph (a) above unless and to the extent that the Guarantor did
not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by
the Guarantor of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the Guarantor from any obligations to any Indemnified Person
other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a)
above. The Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the
Guarantor’s choice at the Guarantor’s expense to represent the Indemnified
Person in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the
Guarantor shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any
separate counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Persons except as set
forth below); provided, however, that such
counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the
Guarantor’s election to appoint counsel to represent the Guarantor in an action,
the Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel
(including local counsel), and the Guarantor shall bear the reasonable fees,
costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel
chosen by the Guarantor to represent the Indemnified Person would present such
counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential
defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified
Person and the Guarantor and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably
concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other
Indemnified Person(s) which are different from or additional to those available
to the Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person
within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or
(iv) the Guarantor shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ
separate counsel at the expense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor will
not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Persons, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending
or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
Indemnified Persons are actual or potential parties to such claim or action)
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release
of each Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such claim, action,
suit or proceeding.
Section
7.3 Compensation; Reimbursement
of Expenses.
The
Guarantor agrees:
(a) to
pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such compensation for all
services rendered by it hereunder as the parties shall agree to from time to
time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard
to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and
(b) except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon
request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made
by it in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee (including the
reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and
counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct.
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
8.1 Successors and
Assigns.
All
guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall bind the successors,
assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall
inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities then
outstanding. Except in connection with any merger or consolidation of
the Guarantor with or into another entity or any sale, transfer or lease of the
Guarantor’s assets to another entity, in each case, to the extent permitted
under the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its
obligations under this Guarantee without the prior approval of the Holders of at
least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities and the Holders
of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities that are
not Founders.
Section
8.2 Amendments.
Except
with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights of Holders
of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which case no consent of
Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended only with the prior
approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities and the Guarantor. The provisions of the
Declaration with respect to amendments thereof apply to the giving of such
approval.
Section
8.3 Notices.
All
notices provided for in this Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the
party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first
class mail, as follows:
(a) If
given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee’s mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice of
to the Holders of the Capital Securities and the Guarantor):
Wilmington
Trust Company
1100
North Market Street
Wilmington,
Delaware 19890-1600
Attention:
Corporate Trust Administration
Telecopy: 302-636-4140
(b) If
given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor’s mailing address set forth below (or
such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the
Capital Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee):
Maiden
Holdings North America, Ltd.
6000
Midlantic Drive
Mount
Laurel, NJ 08054
Attention:
John M. Marshaleck
Telecopy: (856)
437-1111
(c) If
given to any Holder of the Capital Securities, at the address set forth on the
books and records of the Issuer.
All such
notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied
with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except
that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered
because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other
document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or
inability to deliver.
Section
8.4 Benefit.
This
Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Beneficiaries and, subject to Section
2.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities.
Section
8.5 Governing
Law.
PURSUANT
TO SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THIS
GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section
8.6 Counterparts.
This
Guarantee may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be an
original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
Section
8.7 Separability.
In case
one or more of the provisions contained in this Guarantee shall for any reason
be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this
Guarantee, but this Guarantee shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal
or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
Signatures
appear on the following page
THIS
GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written.
MAIDEN
HOLDINGS NORTH AMERICA,
LTD., as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Arturo M. Raschbaum
|
|
Name:
Arturo M. Raschbaum
|
|
Title:
Chief Executive
Officer
|
|
WILMINGTON TRUST
COMPANY, as
Guarantee
Trustee
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh
|
|
Name:
Christopher J. Slaybaugh
|
|
Title: Assistant Vice
President
|
PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
This
Purchase Agreement is dated as of January 14, 2009, by and among Maiden Capital
Financing Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), Maiden Holdings North
America, Ltd., a Delaware corporation (“Maiden NA”), Maiden Holdings, Ltd., a
company organized under the laws of Bermuda (“Maiden BDA”) and each purchaser
identified on the signature pages hereto (each, including its successors and
assigns, a “Purchaser” and collectively the “Purchasers”).
WHEREAS,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, the Trust and Maiden BDA
(collectively, the “Issuers”, and, each individually an Issuer”) desire to issue
and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser, severally and not jointly,
desires to purchase from the Issuers, securities of the Issuers as more fully
described in this Agreement.
WHEREAS,
(a) the Purchasers desire to purchase and the Trust desires to sell, upon the
terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, 260,000 Capital Securities (as
defined below), and (b) the Purchasers desire to purchase and Maiden BDA desires
to sell 11,700,000 common shares, par value $0.01 per share, of Maiden BDA (the
“Common Shares”).
WHEREAS,
the Placement Agent is expected to act as placement agent with respect to the
Investment Units on behalf of the Issuers other than with respect to sales of
Investment Units to the Founders.
WHEREAS,
concurrent with the execution of this Agreement, the Placement Agent is entering
into a Subscription Escrow Agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”) with Wilmington
Trust Company (the “Escrow Agent”), pursuant to which the Escrow Agent will
receive, deposit and hold in a segregated account all funds wired into the
escrow account from the Purchasers (other than the Founders) received in
connection with the sale of the Investment Units until such time as such funds
are to be released to the Issuers or returned to such Purchasers, in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement,
and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which
are hereby acknowledged, Maiden BDA, Maiden NA, the Trust and each Purchaser
agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I.
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. In
addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of
this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this
Section 1.1:
“Administrators”
means Arturo M. Raschbaum, John M. Marshaleck and Karen L. Schmitt.
“Affiliate”
means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a
Person as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act. With respect to a Purchaser, any investment fund or
managed account that is managed on a discretionary basis by the same investment
manager as such Purchaser will be deemed to be an Affiliate of such
Purchaser.
“Agreement”
means this Purchase Agreement among the parties hereto (including any exhibits
and schedules hereto and the Disclosure Schedules) and all amendments hereto
made in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.5.
“Capital
Securities” shall mean the Fixed Rate Capital Securities of the Trust issued
pursuant to the Declaration of Trust.
“Closing”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 2.1(b).
“Closing
Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 2.1(b).
“Commission”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common
Shares” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
Recitals.
“Company
Counsel” means Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP with offices located at 750
Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
“Declaration
of Trust” means that certain Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as
of January 20, 2009 by and among Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional
Trustee and Delaware Trustee, Maiden NA, as Sponsor and the Administrators, as
Administrators.
“Disclosure
Materials” means materials posted by Maiden BDA or its counsel to the Intralinks
datasite in connection with the offering of the Investment Units.
“Disclosure
Schedules” means the Disclosure Schedules of Maiden BDA and Maiden NA delivered
concurrently herewith.
"DTC"
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
2.2(a)(iii).
“End of
Suspension Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 4.9(b).
“Escrow
Agent” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
Recitals.
“Escrow
Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
Recitals.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Founders”
means George Karfunkel, Michael Karfunkel, any of their respective Affiliates
and any of their charitable or family trusts.
“GAAP”
means United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis during the periods involved.
“Governmental
Authority” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3.1(c).
“Holders’
Counsel” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 4.6(c)
“Indenture”
means that certain Indenture dated as of January 20, 2009 between Maiden NA, as
Issuer, and Wilmington Trust Company , as Trustee.
“Investment
Unit” means one Capital Security and 45 Common Shares.
“Issuer(s)”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.
“Law”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3.1(c).
“Lien” or
Liens” means a lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first
refusal, preemptive right or other restriction.
“Losses”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.5.
“Maiden
BDA” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.
“Maiden
Company(ies)” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
3.1(a).
“Maiden
Insurance” means Maiden Insurance Company, Ltd., a company organized under the
laws of Bermuda.
“Maiden
NA” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.
“Material
Adverse Effect” means any circumstance, event, occurrence or development that,
individually or in the aggregate, would have or would reasonably be expected to
result in (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or
enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) a material adverse effect
on the results of operations, assets, business or condition (financial or
otherwise) of Maiden BDA and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a
material adverse effect on the ability of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA or the Trust to
perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under any
Transaction Document.
“Parent
Guarantee” means that certain Guarantee Agreement dated as of January 20, 2009
by and between Maiden BDA and Wilmington Trust Company.
“Person”
means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or
unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint
stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity
of any kind.
“Placement
Agent” means Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc.
“Proceeding”
means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without
limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition),
whether commenced or threatened.
“Purchaser”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.
“Purchaser
Party” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 4.5.
“Registrable
Securities” means all Common Shares issued pursuant hereto and any securities
which may be issued or issued or issuable in respect of Common Shares issued
pursuant hereto by way of share dividend or share split or in connection with a
combination of shares, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, amalgamation,
arrangement, consolidation or other reorganization of Maiden BDA. As
to any particular securities constituting Registrable Securities, such
securities will cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a registration
statement with respect to the sale by the holder thereof shall have been
declared effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been
disposed of in accordance with such registration statement, (ii) they have been
sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 145 or other exemption
from registration under the Securities Act, (iii) they have been acquired by
Maiden BDA or (iv) they are able to be sold by the Purchaser or transferee
holding such Registrable Securities without restriction as to volume or manner
of sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
“Registration
Expenses” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 4.6(c)
“Registration
Statement” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in
Section 4.6 hereof and covering the resale by the Purchasers of all or part of
the Shares.
“Rule 144”
means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities
Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same
effect as such rule.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Shares”
means the Common Shares issued or issuable to each Purchaser pursuant to this
Agreement.
“Short
Sales” means all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of
Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act (but shall not be deemed to include
the location and/or reservation of borrowable Common Shares).
“Subscription
Amount” means, as to each Purchaser, the aggregate amount to be paid for Shares
purchased hereunder set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A under
the heading “Subscription Amount,” in United States dollars and in immediately
available funds.
“Subsidiary”
and collectively, “Subsidiaries” means a subsidiary of Maiden BDA.
“Suspension
Event” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 4.9(b).
“Suspension
Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 4.9(b).
“Trading
Day” means a day on which the Common Shares are traded on a Trading
Market.
“Trading
Market” means the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Shares are
listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the Nasdaq
Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or
the New York Stock Exchange, and on the date hereof and the Closing Date shall
mean the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
“Transaction
Document” and collectively, the “Transaction Documents” means this Agreement,
the Declaration of Trust, the Indenture, the Capital Securities Guarantee (as
defined in the Indenture) and the Parent Guarantee and any other documents or
agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereunder.
“Transfer
Agent” means American Stock Transfer & Trust Company and any successor
transfer agent of Maiden BDA.
“Trust”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.
“Trustee”
means Wilmington Trust Company.
“U.S.”
means the United States of America.
ARTICLE
II.
PURCHASE
AND SALE
2.1 Purchase and Sale of
Investment Units; Closings.
(a) Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Maiden BDA agrees
to sell the Common Shares included in each Investment Unit and the Trust agrees
to sell the Capital Securities included in each Investment Unit, and each
Purchaser, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase, at a price of
$1,000.45 per Investment Unit, the Investment Units set forth opposite such
Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A.
(b) The
purchase and sale of the Investment Units shall take place at a closing (the
“Closing”) at the offices of counsel to Maiden BDA or such other location as
Maiden NA, Maiden BDA and the Placement Agent shall mutually agree at 10:00 a.m.
(Eastern time) on January 20, 2009 or such later date as shall be mutually
agreed to by Maiden NA, Maiden BDA and the Placement Agent (the “Closing
Date”). At the Closing, each Issuer and each Purchaser shall deliver
the items set forth in Section 2.2.
2.2 Deliveries.
(a) On
or prior to the Closing Date, the Issuers shall deliver or cause to be delivered
to each Purchaser the following:
(i)
this Agreement duly executed by each Issuer and Maiden NA;
(ii) a
copy of the irrevocable instructions to the Transfer Agent instructing the
Transfer Agent to deliver, on an expedited basis, a certificate evidencing the
number of its Common Shares included in the Investment Units as set forth
opposite such Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A
hereto, registered in the name of such Purchaser; and
(iii) the
Capital Securities included in the Investment Units being purchased in the form
of one or more permanent global securities in definitive form by means of
deposit with the Trustee as custodian for the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"),
registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, and bearing the
legends set forth in the Declaration of Trust and to be credited to the
Purchasers' accounts.
(b) On
or prior to the Closing Date, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Issuers and Maiden NA this Agreement duly executed by such
Purchaser.
(c) On
or prior to the Closing Date, each Founder shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Trust such Founder’s Subscription Amount for the Investment
Units to be purchased as set forth on Exhibit A by
wire transfer to the Trust of $1,000 per Investment Unit to the Trust’s account
as specified in writing by the Trust and to Maiden BDA of $.45 per Investment
Unit to the Maiden
BDA’s account as specified in writing by Maiden BDA. On or prior to
the Closing Date, each Purchaser who is not a Founder shall deliver or cause to
be delivered to the Escrow Agent (on behalf of the Issuers) such Purchaser’s
Subscription Amount for the Investment Units to be purchased as set forth on
Exhibit A by
wire transfer to the Escrow Agent of $1,000 per Investment Unit and $.45 per
Investment Unit to the escrow account specified in the Escrow
Agreement.
2.3 Closing
Conditions.
(a) The
obligations of the Issuers hereunder with respect to the Closing as to a given
Purchaser are subject to the following conditions being met:
(i)
the representations and warranties of such Purchaser that are contained herein
and (A) that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall
be true when made and on the Closing Date, respectively, (except for
representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date which shall be
accurate as of such date), and (B) that are not qualified by materiality or
Material Adverse Effect shall be accurate in all material respects when made and
on the Closing Date, respectively, (except for representations and warranties
that speak as of a specific date which shall be accurate in all material
respects as of such date);
(ii)
all obligations, covenants and agreements of such Purchaser required to be
performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been
performed;
(iii) the
delivery by such Purchaser of the items set forth in Sections 2.2(b) and
(c) of this Agreement;
(iv) no
Law shall prohibit the consummation of the Closing;
(v)
the Declaration of Trust and the Indenture shall be in full force
and effect; and
(vi) contemporaneously
with the Closing the Trust shall purchase Debentures from Maiden NA with the
proceeds of the Subscription Amount received as of the Closing from such
Purchaser.
(b) The
respective obligations of each Purchaser hereunder with respect to the Closing
are subject to the following conditions being met:
(i)
the representations and warranties of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust that
are contained herein and (A) that are qualified by materiality or Material
Adverse Effect shall be true when made and on the Closing Date, respectively
(except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date
which shall be accurate as of such date), and (B) that are not qualified by
materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be accurate in all material
respects when made and on the Closing Date, respectively, (except for
representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date which shall be
accurate in all material respects as of such date);
(ii)
all obligations, covenants and agreements of Maiden BDA and Maiden NA required
to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been
performed;
(iii) the
Placement Agent and the Purchasers shall have received from each of Maiden BDA
and Maiden NA a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by its
Chief Executive Officer or its Chief Financial Officer, and from the Trust a
certificate, dated as of the Closing Date signed by an Administrator, certifying
to the fulfillment of the conditions specified in Sections 2.3(b)(i) and
(ii).
(iv) the
delivery by the Issuers of the items set forth in Section 2.2(a) of this
Agreement;
(v)
on or before the Closing Date, the Placement Agent and each Purchaser shall have
received (A) an opinion of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, counsel to
Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust, addressed to such Purchaser and the
Placement Agent in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement
Agent addressed to the Placement Agent as to United States federal, New York and
Delaware law, (B) an opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman, counsel to Maiden
BDA, addressed to such Purchaser and the Placement Agent in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent as to Bermuda law, and (C) an
opinion of Richards Layton & Finger, P.A., counsel to Wilmington Trust
Company, addressed to such Purchaser and the Placement Agent in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent as to Delaware law, in
each case dated as of the Closing Date;
(vi) there
shall have been no Material Adverse Effect since the date hereof;
(vii) from
the date hereof through the Closing, (i) no suspension of the qualification of
the Common Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation
or threatening of any Proceedings for any of such purposes, shall have occurred
and (ii) none of the Disclosure Materials shall contain an untrue statement of
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading;
(viii) no
Law shall prohibit the consummation of the Closing; and
(ix) On
or before the Closing, the Placement Agent shall have received the Transaction
Documents executed by each Issuer, Maiden NA, the Trustee, and the
Administrators, as applicable, and such agreements shall be in full force and
effect.
For
purposes of Section 2.2 and this Section 2.3(b), a Purchaser shall be deemed to
have received any instrument or document (other than certificates evidencing the
Common Shares or the Capital Securities), if such instrument or document shall
have been sent via email in pdf format to such Purchaser to the email address
set forth on the signature page hereof.
ARTICLE
III.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
3.1 Representations and
Warranties of the Maiden Companies. Except as set forth in the
Disclosure Schedules, which Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed a part hereof
and shall qualify any representation otherwise made herein that it expressly
claims to qualify and any other representation or warranty to the extent that
the relevance of the disclosed matter to that representation or warranty is
readily apparent, Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust, jointly and severally,
hereby make the following representations and warranties to each Purchaser on
the date hereof and on the Closing Date:
(a) Organization and
Qualification. Maiden BDA, Maiden NA, Maiden Insurance and the
Trust (each a “Maiden Company” and, collectively, the “Maiden Companies”) are
entities duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdictions of their incorporation or
organization (as applicable), with the requisite powers and authority, including
all necessary governmental licenses, authorizations and permits, to own and use
their properties and assets and to carry on business as currently
conducted. No Maiden Company is in violation or default of any of the
provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws,
declaration of trust or other organizational or charter
documents. Each Maiden Company is duly qualified to conduct its
business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in
each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property
owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be
so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, would not have or
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and no Proceeding
has been instituted or, to the knowledge of Maiden
BDA or Maiden NA, has been threatened by any Governmental Authority, in
any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke,
limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.
(b) Authorization;
Enforcement. Each of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust has
the requisite corporate or other power and authority to enter into and to
consummate the transactions contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents to
which it is a party and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and
thereunder. The execution and delivery of each of the Transaction
Documents by each of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust to the extent it is a
party thereto and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of
Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust, as applicable, and no further action is
required by Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust, as applicable , its Board of
Directors, its stockholders, the Trustee or the Administrators in connection
therewith. Each Transaction Document has been (or upon delivery will
have been) duly executed by each of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust that is
a party thereto and, when executed and delivered in accordance with the terms
hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of Maiden
BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust, as applicable, enforceable against Maiden BDA,
Maiden NA and the Trust, as applicable, in accordance with its terms except
(i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application
affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by
laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or
other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and
contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.
(c) No
Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the
Transaction Documents by each of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust, the
issuance and sale of the Investment Units and the consummation by Maiden BDA,
Maiden NA and the Trust of the other transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of
any Maiden Company’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws,
declaration of trust or other organizational or charter documents, or
(ii) require any consent or other action by any Person under, conflict
with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or
both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any
of the properties or assets of any Maiden Company, or give to others any rights
of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice,
lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other
instrument or other understanding to which any Maiden Company is a party or by
which any property or asset of any Maiden Company is bound or affected, or
(iii) conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation,
permit, license, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction (a
“Law”) of any
court or governmental, administrative, regulatory or Trading Market authority to
which any Maiden Company is subject (each a “Governmental
Authority”) (including federal and state securities laws and
regulations), or by which any property or asset of any Maiden Company is bound
or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as
would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(d) Filings, Consents and
Approvals. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’
representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, neither Issuer not
required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any
notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority
or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by
any of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust of the Transaction Documents to which
it is a party, other than (i) the filing of a Form D with the Commission or
state securities (including insurance securities) or “Blue Sky” authorities and
(ii) the filings contemplated by Section 4.6 or 4.7.
(e) Issuance of the Investment
Units.
(i) The
Common Shares included in the Investment Units have been duly authorized for
issuance, sale and delivery pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and
delivered by Maiden BDA against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and
nonassessable, free and clear of any pledge, Lien, encumbrance, security
interest or other claim except for any such pledge, Lien, encumbrance, security
interest or other claim resulting solely from the actions of the Placement Agent
or the Purchasers, and the issuance, sale and delivery of such Common Shares by
Maiden BDA are not subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right, registration
right, right of first refusal or other similar right of shareholders arising by
operation of law, under the charter or bye-laws of Maiden BDA, under any
agreement to which Maiden BDA is a party or otherwise.
(ii) The
Capital Securities included in the Investment Units have been duly authorized
for issuance, sale and delivery pursuant to this Agreement and the Declaration
of Trust and, when issued and delivered by the Trust against payment therefor in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and
fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of any pledge, Lien, encumbrance,
security interest or other claim except for any such pledge, Lien, encumbrance,
security interest or other claim resulting solely from the actions of the
Placement Agent or the Purchasers, and the issuance, sale and delivery of such
Capital Securities by the Trust are not subject to any preemptive right, co-sale
right, registration right, right of first refusal or other similar right of
shareholders arising by operation of law, under the Declaration of Trust, under
any agreement to which the Trust is a party or otherwise.
(f) Qualifications. Each
Maiden Company is duly qualified or licensed by, and is in good standing in,
each jurisdiction in which it conducts its business, or in which it owns or
leases property or maintains an office and in which such qualification or
licensing is necessary and in which the failure, individually or in the
aggregate, to be so qualified or licensed would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Capitalization of Maiden
BDA. The authorized capital stock of Maiden BDA consists of
100,000,000 Common Shares and, as of the date of this Agreement, there were
58,587,664 Common Shares outstanding, 4,050,000 Common Shares reserved for
issuance on the exercise of outstanding warrants, 1,519,834 Common Shares
reserved for issuance on exercise of outstanding options and 1,280,166 Common
Shares reserved for issuance under employee stock or other equity
plans. All of the issued and outstanding Common Shares have been, and
all Common Shares that may be issued pursuant to outstanding warrants and stock
options will be, when issued in accordance with the respective terms thereof,
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and
have not been, or will not be, issued in violation of or subject to any
preemptive right or other similar right of shareholders arising by operation of
law, under the certificate of incorporation or bye-laws of Maiden BDA, under any
agreement to which Maiden BDA is a party or otherwise. Except as set
forth in this Section 3.1(g), there are no outstanding (i) securities or
obligations of Maiden BDA convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock
of Maiden BDA, (ii) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase
from Maiden BDA any such capital stock or any such convertible or exchangeable
securities or obligations or (iii) obligations of Maiden BDA to issue or sell
any shares of capital stock, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or
obligation, or any such warrants, rights or options.
(h) Permits. Each
Maiden Company has all necessary licenses, permits, certificates,
authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all necessary filings
required under any federal, state, local or foreign Law, regulation or rule, and
has obtained all necessary licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations,
consents and approvals from other persons required in order to conduct its
respective business, except to the extent that any failure to have any such
licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations, consents or approvals, to make
any such filings or to obtain any such licenses, permits, certificates,
authorizations, consents or approvals would not, individually and in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; no Maiden Company is in violation of,
or in default under, any such license, permit, certificate, authorization,
consent or approval or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or
rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to such Maiden Company, the
effect of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(i) Proceedings. There
are no material actions, suits, proceedings, inquiries or investigations pending
or, to the knowledge of any of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust, threatened
against any Maiden Company, or any of their respective properties at Law or in
equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority.
(j) Material
Events. Except as disclosed by Maiden BDA in filings and
reports pursuant to the Exchange Act and Securities Act, since September 30,
2008, there has not been any event, circumstance or change that has, or would
reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
(k) Finder’s
Fees. Except for a placement fee owed to the Placement Agent,
none of the Maiden Companies has incurred any liability for any finder’s fees or
similar payments in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby.
(l) Private
Placement. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’
representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, the Investment
Units will be issued and sold pursuant to the registration exemption provided by
Rule 506 of Regulation D and Section 4(2) of the Securities Act as a transaction
not involving a public offering and the requirements of any other applicable
state securities (including insurance securities) or “Blue Sky”
laws. The issuance and sale of the Shares hereunder do not contravene
the rules and regulations of the Trading Market.
(m) Investment
Company. Neither Issuer is, and immediately after receipt of
payment for the Investment Units, will not be, an “investment company” or an
entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(n) Disclosure
Materials. The Disclosure Materials are true and correct and
do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(o) Tax
Status. Except for matters that would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect, (i) each Maiden Company has accurately and timely filed all
federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns, reports and
declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) each
Maiden Company has paid or accrued all taxes shown as due thereon, or, where
payment is not due yet, has established in accordance with GAAP an adequate
accrual for all material taxes through the end of the last period for which such
Maiden Company ordinarily records items in its books and (iii) there is no
tax deficiency in any material amount which has been asserted or threatened
against any Maiden Company.
(p) Regulation M
Compliance. Maiden BDA has not, and to its knowledge no one
acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price
of any security of Maiden BDA to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the
Common Shares, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or, paid any compensation for
soliciting purchases of, any of the Common Shares, or (iii) paid or agreed
to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any
other securities of Maiden BDA, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and
(iii), compensation paid to the Placement Agent in connection with the placement
of the Common Shares.
(q) Registration of Common
Shares. The Common Shares are registered pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Exchange Act and listed for trading on the Trading Market, and
Maiden BDA has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely
to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Shares under
the Exchange Act or the listing of the Common Shares on the Trading Market, nor
has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the Trading
Market is contemplating terminating any such registration or
listing.
(r) Treatment of
Purchasers. Each Purchaser will purchase Investment Units on
the same terms and conditions. No Issuer has paid, or agreed to pay,
to any Affiliate of such Issuer any fee or has entered into any agreement with
any such Affiliate that has not been entered into with each Purchaser, in any
case in connection with the offering of Investment Units contemplated
hereby.
3.2 Representations and
Warranties of the Purchasers. Each Purchaser, for itself and
for no other Purchaser, hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and
as of the Closing Date to Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust as
follows:
(a) Organization;
Authority. Such Purchaser is an entity duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization with full right, corporate or partnership power and authority to
enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and
thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate or similar action on the part of such
Purchaser. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been
duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in
accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding
obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms, except in relation to enforceability (i) as limited by general
equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of
creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the
availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable
remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions
may be limited by applicable law.
(b) Own
Account. Such Purchaser understands that the Investment Units
are “restricted securities” and have not been registered under the Securities
Act or any applicable state or other securities law and is acquiring the
Investment Units as principal for its own account and not with a view to or for
distributing or reselling such Investment Units or any part thereof in violation
of the Securities Act or any applicable state or other securities law, has no
present intention of distributing any of such Investment Units in violation of
the Securities Act or any applicable state or other securities law and has no
direct or indirect arrangement or understandings with any other persons to
distribute or regarding the distribution of such Investment Units in violation
of the Securities Act or any applicable state or other securities
law. Such Purchaser is acquiring the Investment Units hereunder in
the ordinary course of its business.
(c) Purchaser
Status. At the time such Purchaser was offered the Investment
Units, it was, and at the date hereof it is, either: (i) an
“accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act or
(ii) a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A(a)
under the Securities Act. No Purchaser is required to be registered
as a broker-dealer under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
(d) Experience of Such
Purchaser. Such Purchaser, either alone or together with its
representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business
and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of
the prospective investment in the Investment Units, and has so evaluated the
merits and risks of such investment. Such Purchaser is able to bear
the economic risk of an investment in the Investment Units and, at the present
time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.
(e) General
Solicitation. Such Purchaser is not purchasing the Investment
Units as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication
regarding the Investment Units published in any newspaper, magazine or similar
media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or any
other general solicitation or general advertisement.
(f) Short Sales and
Confidentiality Prior to the Date Hereof. Other than the
transaction contemplated hereunder, such Purchaser has not, nor has any Person
acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with such Purchaser,
directly or indirectly executed any transaction, including Short Sales, in the
securities of Maiden BDA during the period commencing from the time that such
Purchaser first received a term sheet (written or oral) from Maiden NA, Maiden
BDA or any other Person setting forth the material terms of the transactions
contemplated hereunder until the date hereof. Other than to other
Persons party to this Agreement, such Purchaser has maintained the
confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this
transaction (including the existence and terms of this
transaction).
(g) Filings, Consents and
Approvals. The Purchaser is not required to obtain any
consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any
filing or registration with, any court or other Governmental Authority or other
Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the
Purchaser of the Transaction Documents, other than any filings required pursuant
to Section 13 or Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(h) Provision of
Information. Such Purchaser has been afforded (i) the
opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive
answers from, representatives of Maiden BDA and Maiden NA concerning the terms
and conditions of the Investment Units and the finances, operations and business
of Maiden BDA and Maiden NA; and (ii) the opportunity to request such
additional information which Maiden BDA or Maiden NA possesses or can acquire
without unreasonable effort or expense.
(i) No Public
Market. Such Purchaser understands that no public market
exists for the Capital Securities and that it is unlikely that a public market
will ever exist for the Capital Securities.
(j) Certain
Fees. No brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will
be payable by such Purchaser to any broker, financial advisor or consultant,
finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to
the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(k) Acknowledgement. Each
Purchaser acknowledges that the Issuers have relied upon the representations and
warranties of the Purchasers set forth in Section 3.2 in its determination
that no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale
of the Investment Units by the Issuers to the Purchasers as contemplated by this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
IV.
OTHER
AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
4.1 Transfer
Restrictions.
(a)
Each of the Purchasers agrees that its Investment Units may only be
disposed of in compliance with state and federal securities laws. In
connection with any transfer of Capital Securities or Common Shares, other than
pursuant to an effective registration statement or Rule 144, to the
applicable Issuer or to an Affiliate of a Purchaser, the applicable Issuer may
require the transferor thereof to provide to the applicable Issuer an opinion of
counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to such Issuer, the
form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to such
Issuer, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such
transferred Capital Securities or Common Shares under the Securities
Act. As a condition of transfer, other than pursuant to an effective
Registration Statement or Rule 144, any such transferee shall agree in
writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and shall have the rights of
a Purchaser under this Agreement.
(b) Each
Purchaser agrees to the imprinting, so long as is required by this
Section 4.1, of a legend on any of its Common Shares in the following
form:
THESE
SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES
ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN
AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO
SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO MAIDEN
HOLDINGS, LTD.
(c)
Certificates evidencing the Common Shares shall not contain
any legend (including the legend set forth in Section 4.1(b)),
(i) following any sale of such Common Shares pursuant to Rule 144,
(ii) if such Common Shares are eligible for sale under
Rule 144(b)(1)(i), or (iii) if such legend is not required under
applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial
interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the
Commission). Maiden BDA agrees that at such time as such legend is no
longer required under this Section 4.1(c), it will promptly following the
delivery by a Purchaser to Maiden BDA or the Transfer Agent of a certificate
representing Common Shares issued with a restrictive legend, deliver or cause to
be delivered to such Purchaser a certificate representing such Common Shares
that is free from all restrictive and other legends. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Maiden BDA shall not be required to remove any legends until all
Common Shares represented by a single certificate are no longer subject to
restrictions. If only a portion of the Common Shares represented by
any single certificate is subject to restrictions, the holder of the certificate
may request, or Maiden BDA may require, that such certificate be cancelled and
two new certificates be issued. One certificate shall represent, and
be in the amount of, Common Shares not subject to restrictions and shall bear no
legend and the second certificate shall represent, and be in the amount of,
Common Shares subject to restrictions and shall bear an appropriate
legend. Certificates for Common Shares subject to legend removal
hereunder shall be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Purchasers by
crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker or custodian bank with the
Depository Trust Company system.
(d) Each
Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, agrees that the
removal of the restrictive legend from certificates representing Common Shares
as set forth in this Section 4.1 is predicated upon Maiden BDA’s reliance
that such Purchaser will sell any Common Shares pursuant to either the
registration requirements of the Securities Act, including any applicable
prospectus delivery requirements, or an exemption therefrom, and that if Shares
are sold pursuant to a registration statement, they will be sold in compliance
with the plan of distribution set forth therein.
4.2 Furnishing of
Information. As long as any Purchaser owns Common Shares and
Maiden BDA remains subject to the requirements of the Exchange Act, Maiden BDA
covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file
within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by Maiden
BDA after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act. As long as
any Purchaser owns Common Shares, if Maiden BDA is not required to file reports
pursuant to the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Purchasers and
make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) such information as is
required for the Purchasers to sell the Common Shares under
Rule 144. Maiden BDA further covenants that it will take such
further action as any holder of Common Shares may reasonably request, to the
extent required from time to time to enable such Person to sell such Shares
without registration under the Securities Act within the requirements of the
exemption provided by Rule 144.
4.3 Integration. Maiden
BDA shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise
negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the
Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Shares in
a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the
sale of the Shares to the Purchasers or that would be integrated with the offer
or sale of the Shares for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading
Market such that it would require shareholder approval prior to the closing of
such other transaction unless shareholder approval is obtained before the
closing of such subsequent transaction.
4.4 Use of
Proceeds. The Trust shall use the net proceeds received by it
from the sale of the Investment Units hereunder to purchase Debentures pursuant
to the Indenture.
4.5 Indemnification of
Purchasers. Subject to the provisions of this
Section 4.5, Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust will, jointly and
severally, indemnify and hold each Purchaser and its directors, officers,
shareholders, members, partners, employees and agents, each Person who controls
such Purchaser (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and
Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, shareholders,
agents, members, partners or employees of such controlling persons (each, a
“Purchaser Party”) harmless from any and all losses, liabilities, obligations,
claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses, including all judgments,
amounts paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and
costs of investigation that any such Purchaser Party may suffer or incur, it
being understood and agreed that such losses and damages are not limited to
out-of-pocket expenses (collectively “Losses”) as a result of or relating to any
breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made
by any of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust in this Agreement or in the other
Transaction Documents. If any action shall be brought against any
Purchaser Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this
Agreement, such Purchaser Party shall promptly notify each of Maiden BDA, Maiden
NA and the Trust in writing (provided, that the
failure of any Purchaser Party to give such notice shall not relieve Maiden BDA,
Maiden NA and the Trust of their obligations or liabilities pursuant to this
Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that such failure shall have
prejudiced Maiden BDA, Maiden NA or the Trust), and Maiden BDA, Maiden NA or the
Trust shall have the right to assume the defense thereof with counsel of its own
choosing reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser Party if Maiden BDA, Maiden NA
or the Trust acknowledges in writing its obligation to indemnify such Purchaser
Party hereunder for any Losses that may result from such action. Any
Purchaser Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of such Purchaser Party except to the extent
that (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized by Maiden
BDA, Maiden NA or the Trust in writing, (ii) each of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA
and the Trust has failed after a reasonable period of time to acknowledge in
writing their obligation to indemnify such Purchaser Party hereunder or to
assume such defense and to employ counsel or (iii) in such action there is,
in the reasonable opinion of such separate counsel, a material conflict on any
material issue between the position of any of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA or the Trust
and the position of such Purchaser Party, in which case Maiden BDA, Maiden NA
and the Trust shall be, jointly and severally, responsible for the reasonable
fees and expenses of no more than one such separate counsel. None of
Maiden BDA, Maiden NA or the Trust will be liable to any Purchaser Party under
this Agreement (i) for any settlement by a Purchaser Party effected without
the prior written consent of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust, which shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, if any of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA or the
Trust has previously acknowledged in writing its obligations to indemnify such
Purchaser Party hereunder against Losses that may result from such action; or
(ii) to the extent, but only to the extent that any Losses are proximately
caused by (A) any Purchaser Party’s breach of any of the representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements made by such Purchaser Party in this
Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents, (B) any violations by a
Purchaser of state or federal securities laws or (C) any conduct by such
Purchaser that has been finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
to have constituted fraud, gross negligence or willful
misconduct. Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust shall obtain the
prior written consent of the relevant Purchaser Party(ies) before entering into
any settlement of any third party claim if the settlement does not release the
relevant Purchaser Party(ies) from all liabilities and obligations with respect
to such claim or the settlement imposes injunctive or other equitable relief
against the relevant Purchaser Party(ies).
4.6 Registration Rights; Rule
144, Etc.
(a) Mandatory Shelf
Registration. Maiden BDA will use its commercially reasonable
efforts to qualify for registration on, and will promptly file on or prior to
April 15, 2009, a registration statement on, Form S-1, and such Registration
Statement will be a “shelf” registration statement providing for the
registration, and the sale on a continuous or delayed basis, of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to Rule 415. Upon filing the Registration
Statement, Maiden BDA will, if applicable, use its commercially reasonable
efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective, will keep
such Registration Statement effective with the Commission at all times and the
Registration Statement shall be re-filed upon its expiration, and shall
cooperate in any shelf take-down by amending or supplementing the prospectus
related to such Registration Statement as may be requested by the Purchasers or
any transferees or as otherwise required, until the Purchasers or any
transferees who would require such registration to effect a sale of the
Registrable Securities no longer hold the Registrable Securities. Maiden BDA
will pay all Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the shelf
registration contemplated by this Section 4.6.
(b) Registration
Procedures. In connection with the obligations of Maiden BDA
with respect to any registration pursuant to this Agreement, Maiden BDA shall
use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect or cause to be effected the
registration of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act to permit
the sale of such Registrable Securities, and Maiden BDA shall:
(i)
prepare and file with the Commission a Registration
Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities, make all required filings
with the National Association of Securities Dealers and the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority and thereafter use its commercially reasonable efforts to
cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably
practicable and to remain effective as provided herein, provided that before
filing a Registration Statement or any amendments or supplements thereto, Maiden
BDA will, at Maiden BDA’s expense, furnish or otherwise make available to the
Holders’ Counsel and the Placement Agent copies of all such documents proposed
to be filed and such other documents reasonably requested by such counsel and
the Placement Agent, which documents will be subject to review and comment of
such counsel at Maiden BDA’s expense, including any comment letter from the
Commission with respect to such filing or the documents incorporated by
reference therein, and if requested by such counsel or the Placement Agent,
provide such counsel and the Placement Agent reasonable opportunity to
participate in the preparation of such Registration Statement and such other
opportunities to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the
Securities Act, including reasonable access to Maiden BDA’s financial books and
records, officers, accountants and other advisors;
(ii)
prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement as may be necessary to
keep such Registration Statement effective continuously and such Registration
Statement shall be re-filed upon its expiration until all of the securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with
the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof set forth
in such Registration Statement (but in any event not before the expiration of
any longer period required under the Securities Act) (or such shorter period
ending on the date that the securities covered by such Registration Statement
cease to constitute Registrable Securities), and comply with the provisions of
the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by
such Registration Statement until such time as all of such securities have been
disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller
or sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement (or such shorter
period ending on the date that the securities covered by such Registration
Statement cease to constitute Registrable Securities), and cause the related
prospectus to be supplemented by any prospectus supplement as may be necessary
to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the
disposition of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, and as so
supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in
force) under the Securities Act;
(iii) furnish
to each seller of Registrable Securities such number of copies, without charge,
of such Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, including
each preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, any other prospectus (including
any prospectus filed under Rule 424, Rule 430A or Rule 430B under the Securities
Act and any “issuer free writing prospectus” as such term is defined under Rule
433 promulgated under the Securities Act), all exhibits and other documents
filed therewith and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request
including in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities
owned by such seller, and upon request a copy of any and all transmittal letters
or other correspondence to or received from, the Commission or any other
Governmental Authority relating to such offer;
(iv) register
or qualify (or exempt from registration or qualification) such Registrable
Securities, and keep such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom)
effective, under such other securities (including insurance securities) or blue
sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and
all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or reasonably
advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (provided that
Maiden BDA will not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this
subsection, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C)
consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction);
(v)
notify each seller of such Registrable Securities and the Holders’
Counsel at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act, upon discovery that, or upon the discovery
of the happening of any event that makes any statement made in the Registration
Statement or related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, prospectus or
documents and, as soon as reasonably practicable, subject to Section 4.9,
prepare and furnish to such seller a reasonable number of copies of a supplement
or amendment to such prospectus so that, in the case of the Registration
Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, not misleading, and that in the case of any prospectus, it
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statement therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading;
(vi) notify
each seller of any Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
and the Holders’ Counsel (A) when such Registration Statement or the prospectus
or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed and,
with respect to such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment,
when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for
amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or to amend or to
supplement such prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by
the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such
Registration Statement or the initiation of any Proceedings for any of such
purposes, and (D) of the receipt by Maiden BDA of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of
the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or
threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose;
(vii) upon
the occurrence of an event contemplated in Section 4.6(b)(v) or in Section
4.6(b)(vi)(B), (b)(vi)(C) or (b)(vi)(D) (but subject to Section 4.9), prepare a
supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference, or file any other required document so that such
prospectus as thereafter delivered to the sellers of such Registrable Securities
will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made;
(viii) cause
all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on
which similar securities issued by Maiden BDA are then listed or, if no similar
securities issued by Maiden BDA are then listed on any securities exchange, use
its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to
be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Select Market, as
determined by Maiden BDA;
(ix) provide
a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later
than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
(x)
if requested by any seller of Registrable Securities, promptly include in a
prospectus supplement or amendment such information as the seller may reasonably
request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such
securities and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such
amendment as soon as practicable after Maiden BDA has received such
request;
(xi) make
available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities and the
Holders’ Counsel, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any
such seller, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
documents relating to the business of Maiden BDA, and cause Maiden BDA’s
officers, directors, employees and independent accountants to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such seller, attorney, accountant or
agent in connection with such Registration Statement, provided that it shall be
a condition to such inspection and receipt of such information that the
inspecting person (A) enter into a confidentiality agreement in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Maiden BDA and (B) agree to minimize the
disruption to Maiden BDA’s business in connection with the
foregoing;
(xii) otherwise
use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and any applicable national securities
exchange;
(xiii) timely
provide to its security holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;
(xiv) use
commercially reasonable efforts to avoid the issuance of, and in the event of
the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement, or of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related
prospectus or ceasing trading of any securities included in such Registration
Statement for sale in any jurisdiction, use commercially reasonable efforts to
promptly obtain the withdrawal of such order;
(xv) obtain
any required regulatory or shareholder approval necessary for the Purchaser or
any transferee to sell its Registrable Securities in an offering;
and
(xvi) as
a condition to registering Registrable Securities, Maiden BDA may require each
Purchaser and transferee holding Registrable Securities as to which any
registration is being effected to furnish Maiden BDA with such information
regarding such person and pertinent to the disclosure requirements relating to
the registration and the distribution of such securities as Maiden BDA may from
time to time reasonably request in writing.
(c) Registration
Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all
expenses incidental to Maiden BDA’s performance of or compliance with this
Agreement, including all registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of
compliance with securities (including insurance securities) or blue sky laws,
word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, messenger, telephone and
delivery expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any road show, and fees
and disbursements of counsel for Maiden BDA and all independent certified public
accountants and other persons retained by Maiden BDA, as well as reasonable fees
and out-of-pocket expenses of one counsel (“Holders’ Counsel”) selected by
Purchasers holding the majority of the Registrable Securities, who shall be
reasonably acceptable to a majority of the holders of Registrable Securities
that are not Founders; provided that, if such counsel shall not have been
selected by a majority of the holders of Registrable Securities, a majority of
the holders of Registrable Securities that are not Founders may select a counsel
to be Holders’ Counsel that is experienced in public offerings, it being
acknowledged that Sidley Austin LLP is so experienced (all such expenses,
“Registration Expenses”), will be borne by Maiden BDA. Maiden BDA will, in any
event, pay its internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of
any annual audit or quarterly review, the expenses of any liability insurance
and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each
securities exchange on which similar securities issued by Maiden BDA are then
listed or on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The
holders of the securities so registered shall pay all underwriting discounts,
selling commissions and transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable
Securities hereunder.
(d) Suspension of
Use. In addition to and without limiting the provisions of
Section 4.9, each person that is participating in any registration hereunder
agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from Maiden BDA of the happening of any
event of the kind described in Section 4.6(b)(v) and (b)(vi), such person will
forthwith discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement until such person receives copies of a supplemented
or amended prospectus as contemplated by such Section 4.6(b)(v), (b)(vi) and
(b)(vii).
4.7 Form D; Blue Sky
Filings. The Issuers agree to timely file a Form D with
respect to the Investment Units as required under Regulation D and to
provide a copy thereof, promptly upon request of any Purchaser. The
Issuers shall take such action as the Issuers shall reasonably determine is
necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to qualify the Investment
Units for, sale to the Purchasers at the applicable Closing under applicable
securities (including insurance securities) or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of
the United States, and shall provide evidence of such actions promptly upon
request of any Purchaser. Each Purchaser shall take all commercially
reasonable actions that are reasonably requested by the Issuers related to, or
to effectuate, the filing of a Form D or any filing required pursuant to
the “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States which, for purposes of
clarity, shall not include the payment of any fees by such
Purchaser.
4.8 Rule
144A. For so long as the Capital Securities are not eligible
for resale without restriction under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, Maiden
BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust will, during any period in which such information
is not available through the periodic filings of Maiden BDA with the Commission,
upon written request of a Purchaser provide to such Purchaser and to each
prospective purchaser (as designated by such Purchaser), any information
required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities
Act.
4.9 Black-Out
Period.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of this Section 4.9 and a good faith determination by a
majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors of Maiden BDA that
it is in the best interests of Maiden BDA to suspend the use of the Registration
Statement contemplated by Section 4.6, following the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement (and the filings with any international, federal or state
securities commissions), Maiden BDA, by written notice to the Placement Agent
and the Purchasers, may direct the Purchasers to suspend sales of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement for such times as
Maiden BDA reasonably may determine is necessary and advisable (but in no event
for more than an aggregate of ninety (90) days in any rolling twelve (12)-month
period commencing or more than sixty (60) days in any rolling 90-day period), if
any of the following events shall occur: (i) the representative of the
underwriters of an underwritten offering of Common Shares by Maiden BDA has
advised Maiden BDA that the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement would have a material adverse effect on Maiden BDA’s
primary offering; (ii) the majority of the independent members of the Board of
Directors of Maiden BDA shall have determined in good faith that (A) the offer
or sale of any Registrable Securities would materially impede, delay or
interfere with any proposed financing, offer or sale of securities, acquisition,
corporate reorganization or other significant transaction involving Maiden BDA,
(B) after the advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement would require disclosure of non-public material
information not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and (C)
(x) Maiden BDA has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the
confidentiality of such transaction, (y) disclosure would have a material
adverse effect on Maiden BDA or Maiden BDA’s ability to consummate such
transaction, or (z) the proposed transaction renders Maiden BDA unable to comply
with Commission requirements, in each case under circumstances that would make
it impractical or inadvisable to cause the Registration Statement (or such
filings) to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the Registration
Statement on a post-effective basis, as applicable; or (iii) the majority of the
independent members of the Board of Directors of Maiden BDA shall have
determined in good faith, after the advice of counsel, that it is required by
law, rule or regulation or that it is in the best interests of Maiden BDA to
supplement the Registration Statement or file a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement in order to incorporate information into the Registration
Statement for the purpose of (1) including in the Registration Statement any
prospectus required under Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (2) reflecting
in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or of the
most-recent post-effective amendment) that, individually or in the aggregate,
represents a fundamental change in the information set forth therein; or (3)
including in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not disclosed in the
Registration Statement or any material change to such information. Upon the
occurrence of any such suspension, Maiden BDA shall use all reasonable efforts
to cause the Registration Statement to become effective or to promptly amend or
supplement the Registration Statement on a post-effective basis or to take such
action as is necessary to make resumed use of the Registration Statement
compatible with Maiden BDA’s best interests, as applicable, so as to permit the
Purchaser’s to resume sales of the Registrable Securities as soon as
possible.
(b) In
the case of an event that causes Maiden BDA to suspend the use of the
Registration Statement (a “Suspension Event”), Maiden BDA shall give written
notice (a “Suspension Notice”) to the Placement Agent and the Purchasers to
suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice shall state
generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only
for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing and Maiden BDA
is using all reasonable efforts and taking all reasonable steps to terminate
suspension of the use of the Registration Statement as promptly as possible. The
Purchasers shall not effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a
Suspension Notice from Maiden BDA and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension
Notice (as defined below). If so directed by Maiden BDA, each Purchaser will
deliver to Maiden BDA (at the expense of Maiden BDA) all copies other than
permanent file copies then in such Purchaser’s possession of the prospectus
covering the Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of the Suspension
Notice. The Purchasers may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement (or such filings) following
further notice to such effect (an “End of Suspension Notice”) from Maiden BDA,
which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by Maiden BDA to the Purchasers
and the Placement Agent in the manner described above promptly following the
conclusion of any Suspension Event and its effect.
(c) Notwithstanding
any provision herein to the contrary, if Maiden BDA shall give a Suspension
Notice pursuant to this Section 4.9, Maiden BDA agrees that it shall extend the
period of time during which the Registration Statement shall be maintained
effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period
from the date of receipt by the Purchaser of the Suspension Notice to and
including the date of receipt by the Purchasers of the End of Suspension Notice
and copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus necessary to resume
sales.
ARTICLE
V.
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Termination.
(a) This
Agreement may be terminated by any Purchaser, as to such Purchaser’s obligations
hereunder only and without any effect whatsoever on the obligations between
Maiden BDA and the other Purchasers, by written notice to the other parties, if
the Closing with respect to the Investment Units to be purchased by such
Purchaser has not occurred on or before January 23, 2009; provided, however, that the
right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 5.1 shall not be available
to any Person whose failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement
has been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the Closing to occur on or
before such time. Nothing in this Section 5.1 shall affect the right
of any party to sue for any breach by the other party (or parties).
(b) Sections
5.2, 5.3, 5.6, 5.8 and 5.9 shall survive any termination hereof pursuant to this
Section 5.1.
5.2 Fees and
Expenses. Except as set forth in this Section 5.2, each party
shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other
experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the
negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement.
5.3 Entire
Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the
exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters,
which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and
schedules.
5.4 Notices. Any
and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to
be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and
effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice
or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number set forth on
the signature pages attached hereto prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a
Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if
such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number
set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Trading
Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day,
(c) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S.
nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt
by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address
for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages
attached hereto.
5.5 Amendments;
Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived or
amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by
Maiden BDA and Purchasers holding at least a majority of the Capital Securities
then held by the Purchasers or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against
whom enforcement of any such waived provision is sought; provided that (i) any
amendment of any of Sections 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 5.1,
this Section 5.5 or the amount payable by any Purchaser for its Shares can only
be effected by a written instrument signed by Maiden BDA and each Purchaser,
(ii) no amendment to this Agreement that treats any Purchaser disparately
by its terms (as opposed to its effect) from the other Purchasers may be
effected without the consent of the disparately affected Purchaser, and (iii)
any amendment to Section 4.6, 4.7, 4.8 or 4.9 can only be effected if it is
approved by holders of a majority of the Common Shares issued pursuant hereto
and a majority of the holders of such Common Shares that are not
Founders. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision,
condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing
waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any
other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or
omission of any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the
exercise of any such right.
5.6 Headings. The
headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this
Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions
hereof.
5.7 Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. No
Issuer may assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without
the prior written consent of the Purchasers holding a majority of the Capital
Securities. Any Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights under
this Agreement to any Person to whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers any
Capital Securities or Common Shares, provided such transferee agrees in writing
to be bound, with respect to the transferred Capital Securities or Common Shares
and in all other respects bound to the terms of this Agreement, by the
provisions of the Transaction Documents that apply to the
“Purchasers.”
5.8 No Third-Party
Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is
not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other
Person, except (i) as otherwise set forth in Section 4.5 and (ii) the Placement
Agent is an intended third party beneficiary of Article III and Sections 4.5,
4.6 and 4.7.
5.9 Governing
Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law
thereof. Each party agrees that all legal Proceedings concerning the
interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a
party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders,
employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal
courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in
the City of New York, borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute
hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby
or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the
Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert
in any suit, action or Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject
to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or Proceeding is
improper or is an inconvenient venue for such Proceeding. Each party
hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process
being served in any such suit, action or Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof
via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of
delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this
Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall
be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner
permitted by law. The parties hereby waive all rights to a trial by
jury. If any party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce
any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then the substantially prevailing
party in such action or Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for
its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the
investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or
proceeding.
5.10 Survival. The
representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing Date
and the delivery of the Investment Units until the two-year anniversary of the
Closing Date. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any breach of
representation or warranty in respect of which indemnity may be sought under
this Agreement shall survive the time at which it would otherwise terminate
pursuant to the preceding sentence if notice of the inaccuracy or breach thereof
shall have been given in writing to the party against whom indemnity may be
sought prior to such time.
5.11 Execution. This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken
together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become
effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the
other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same
counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by
facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such
signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or
on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if
such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.
5.12 Severability. If
any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable,
the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth
herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected,
impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially
reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same
or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision,
covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be
the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
5.13 Rescission and Withdrawal
Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
(and without limiting any similar provisions of) any of the other Transaction
Documents, whenever any Purchaser exercises a right, election, demand or option
under a Transaction Document and any of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust does
not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided,
then such Purchaser may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to
time upon written notice to any of Maiden BDA, Maiden NA and the Trust, any
relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its
future actions and rights.
5.14 Replacement of Common
Shares. If any certificate or instrument evidencing any Common
Shares is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, Maiden BDA shall issue or cause
to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof (in
the case of mutilation), or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new
certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to Maiden BDA of such loss, theft or destruction. The
applicant for a new certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall
also pay any reasonable third-party costs (including customary indemnity)
associated with the issuance of such replacement Common Shares.
5.15 Remedies. In
addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by
law, including recovery of damages, each of the parties hereto will be entitled
to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties
agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss
incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in the Transaction
Documents and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert in any action for
specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law
would be adequate.
5.16 Independent Nature of
Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each
Purchaser under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any
way for the performance or non-performance of the obligations of any other
Purchaser under any Transaction Document or any breach of any representation or
warranty of any other Purchaser under any Transaction
Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction
Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant thereto, shall be deemed
to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture
or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in
any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each
Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights,
including without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of
the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other
Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such
purpose. Each Purchaser has been represented by its own separate
legal counsel in their review and negotiation of the Transaction
Documents.
5.17 Construction. The
parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel has reviewed and
had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the
normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be
resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation
of the Transaction Documents or any amendments hereto.
(Signature
Pages Follow)
SIGNATURE PAGE
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Date
Signed: January ____, 2009
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PURCHASER:
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By
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Signature
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Second
Signature (if purchasing jointly)
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Printed
Name and Title, if applicable
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Printed
Second Name and Title, if applicable
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Entity
Name
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Entity
Name
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Address
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Address
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City,
State and Zip Code
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City,
State and Zip Code
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Physical
Delivery Address for Certificates
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Physical
Delivery Address for Certificates
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(if
different than above address)
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(if
different than above address)
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City,
State and Zip Code
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City,
State and Zip Code
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Telephone-Business
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Telephone—Business
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Facsimile-Business
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Facsimile—Business
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Email
Address
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Email
Address
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Tax
ID # or Social Security #
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Tax
ID # or Social Security
#
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Name in
which Investment Units should be
issued: _______________________________________
This
Securities Purchase Agreement is agreed to and accepted as of January 14,
2009.
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MAIDEN
HOLDINGS, LTD
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By:
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/s/ Michael
Tait
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Name: Michael
Tait
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Title: Chief
Financial Officer
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MAIDEN
HOLDINGS NORTH AMERICA, LTD.
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By:
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/s/ Arturo M.
Raschbaum
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Name: Arturo
M. Raschbaum
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Title: Chief
Executive Officer
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MAIDEN
CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST
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By:
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/s/ Arturo M.
Raschbaum
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Arturo M. Raschbaum
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Administrator
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Maiden
Holdings Raises $260 Million in a Trust Preferred Securities
Transaction
Tuesday January 20, 4:05 pm
ET
HAMILTON,
Bermuda, Jan. 20, 2009 -- Maiden Holdings, Ltd. (NasdaqGS:MHLD - News) (``Maiden'') and its wholly
owned subsidiary Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. (``MHNA'') announced today
that on January 20, 2009, in connection with an offering of Trust Preferred
Securities by an affiliated trust, MHNA has issued subordinated debentures in
the principal amount of $260 million (the ``Debentures'') pursuant to an
Indenture with Wilmington Trust Company as Trustee. As part of the transaction,
Maiden issued 11,700,000 shares of common stock to the purchasers of the
Debentures. These securities were placed privately with the founding
shareholders and several institutional investors. Friedman, Billings, Ramsey
& Co. Inc. served as placement agent with respect to the securities
purchased by the institutional investors.
The
Debentures mature in January 2039 and bear interest at 14% per annum. The
Debentures are redeemable at par plus one year's interest at the Company's
election until January 2014, and thereafter at par.
Maiden
intends to use the proceeds of the offering for working capital purposes and to
support the recently acquired GMAC Re business. Art Raschbaum, CEO of Maiden,
stated that, ``The successful completion of the trust preferred financing
positions the expanded Maiden Holdings platform to continue to service its
existing business and for growth. We are very appreciative of the commitment of
our investors. We believe that this solution is superior to a rights offering in
the current environment and is in the best interest of our
shareholders.''
This
announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy
any of the Maiden common stock or the trust preferred securities. Neither the
Maiden common stock nor the trust preferred securities have been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws.
Unless so registered, neither the Maiden common stock nor the trust preferred
securities may be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an
exemption from registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws. Maiden has agreed to file a registration statement
covering the resale of the common stock issued in the offering.
About
Maiden Holdings, Ltd.
Maiden
Holdings, Ltd. is a Bermuda holding company formed in 2007 to offer customized
reinsurance products and services to regional and specialty insurance companies
in the United States and Europe.
Forward
Looking Statement
This
release contains ``forward-looking statements'' which are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
The forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations
and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the
Company. There can be no assurance that actual developments will be those
anticipated by the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those
projected as a result of significant risks and uncertainties, including
non-receipt of expected payments, changes in interest rates, effect of the
performance of financial markets on investment income and fair values of
investments, developments of claims and the effect on loss reserves, accuracy in
projecting loss reserves, ability to renew the GMAC RE business, the impact of
competition and pricing environments, changes in the demand for the Company's
products, the effect of general economic conditions, adverse state and federal
legislation, regulations and regulatory investigations into industry practices,
developments relating to existing agreements, heightened competition, changes in
pricing environments, and changes in asset valuations. The Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Maiden
Holdings, Ltd.
Devora
M. Goldenberg
441.292.7090
irelations@maiden.bm
Source:
Maiden Holdings, Ltd.
v137737_ex99-2 -- Converted by SECPublisher 2.1.1.8, created by BCL Technologies Inc., for SEC Filing