Document:

Exhibit 10.23

 

CARLISLE COMPANIES INCORPORATED

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2012

 

 

CARLISLE COMPANIES INCORPORATED

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2012

 

Table of Contents

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page No.
    
	
SECTION 1 Purpose and   Administration
    	
1
    
	
1.1
    	
Name of Plan
    	
1
    
	
1.2
    	
Effective Date
    	
1
    
	
1.3
    	
Purpose
    	
1
    
	
1.4
    	
Administration
    	
1
    
	
SECTION 2 Definitions
    	
2
    
	
2.1
    	
Affiliate
    	
2
    
	
2.2
    	
Associate
    	
2
    
	
2.3
    	
Beneficial Owner
    	
2
    
	
2.4
    	
Bonus
    	
2
    
	
2.5
    	
Change in Control
    	
2
    
	
2.6
    	
Change in Control Acceleration Event
    	
2
    
	
2.7
    	
Code
    	
3
    
	
2.8
    	
Company
    	
3
    
	
2.9
    	
Company Stock
    	
3
    
	
2.10
    	
Compensation
    	
3
    
	
2.11
    	
Deferral Election
    	
3
    
	
2.12
    	
Deferred Compensation Account
    	
3
    
	
2.13
    	
Disabled
    	
3
    
	
2.14
    	
Distribution Election
    	
3
    
	
2.15
    	
Employee
    	
4
    
	
2.16
    	
Employer
    	
4
    
	
2.17
    	
ERISA
    	
4
    
	
2.18
    	
Exchange Act
    	
4
    
	
2.19
    	
Group
    	
4
    
	
2.20
    	
In-Service Date
    	
4
    
	
2.21
    	
Investment Options
    	
4
    
	
2.22
    	
Matching Contributions
    	
4
    
	
2.23
    	
Normal Retirement Date
    	
4
    
	
2.24
    	
Other Compensation
    	
5
    
	
2.25
    	
Participant
    	
5
    
	
2.26
    	
Participating Employer
    	
5
    
	
2.27
    	
Person
    	
5
    
	
2.28
    	
Plan
    	
5
    
	
2.29
    	
Plan Administrator
    	
5
    
	
2.30
    	
Plan Year
    	
5
    
	
2.31
    	
Salary
    	
5
    
	
2.32
    	
Separation from Service
    	
5
    
	
2.33
    	
Subsequent Distribution Election
    	
5
    
	
2.34
    	
Subsidiary
    	
5
    
	
2.35
    	
Unforeseeable Emergency
    	
6
    
	
2.36
    	
Valuation Date
    	
6
    
	
SECTION 3 Eligibility, Participation,   Deferral Elections, and Matching Contributions
    	
6
    
	
3.1
    	
Eligibility and Participation
    	
6
    
	
3.2
    	
Rules for Deferral and Distribution Elections
    	
6
    
	
3.3
    	
Amounts Deferred
    	
7
    
	
3.4
    	
Cancellation of Deferral Elections
    	
7
    
	
3.5
    	
Matching Contributions
    	
7
    
	
SECTION 4 Deferred   Compensation Accounts
    	
7
    
				

 

 

	
4.1
    	
Deferred Compensation Accounts
    	
8
    
	
4.2
    	
Deferral Account Adjustments and Hypothetical Investment   Options
    	
8
    
	
4.3
    	
Vesting
    	
8
    
	
4.4
    	
Investment Options
    	
8
    
	
4.5
    	
Special Rule for Company Stock Hypothetical Investment   Option
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 5 Payment of   Benefits
    	
8
    
	
5.1
    	
Time and Form of Payment
    	
8
    
	
5.2
    	
Payment Upon Disability
    	
9
    
	
5.3
    	
Payment Upon Death of a Participant
    	
9
    
	
5.4
    	
Payment Upon Separation from Service within Twelve Months   of Change in Control Acceleration Event
    	
9
    
	
5.5
    	
Beneficiary
    	
9
    
	
5.6
    	
Optional Distribution Alternative
    	
9
    
	
5.7
    	
Changes in Time or Form of Distribution
    	
10
    
	
5.8
    	
Effect of Early Taxation
    	
10
    
	
5.9
    	
Permitted Delays
    	
10
    
	
5.10
    	
Withholding of Taxes
    	
10
    
	
SECTION 6 Miscellaneous
    	
10
    
	
6.1
    	
Rights Unsecured
    	
11
    
	
6.2
    	
No Enlargement of Rights
    	
11
    
	
6.3
    	
Interests Not Transferable
    	
11
    
	
6.4
    	
Domestic Relations Orders
    	
11
    
	
6.5
    	
Forfeitures and Unclaimed Amounts
    	
12
    
	
6.6
    	
Controlling Law
    	
12
    
	
6.7
    	
Words and Headings
    	
12
    
	
6.8
    	
Action by the Employers
    	
12
    
	
6.9
    	
No Fiduciary Relationship
    	
12
    
	
6.10
    	
Claims Procedures
    	
12
    
	
6.11
    	
Disability Claims
    	
13
    
	
6.12
    	
Notice
    	
14
    
	
6.13
    	
No Guarantee of Benefits
    	
14
    
	
6.14
    	
Incapacity of Recipient
    	
14
    
	
6.15
    	
Corporate Successors
    	
14
    
	
6.16
    	
Severability
    	
14
    
	
6.17
    	
Indemnification
    	
14
    
	
SECTION 7 Employer   Participation
    	
14
    
	
7.1
    	
Adoption of Plan
    	
14
    
	
7.2
    	
Withdrawal from the Plan by Employer
    	
14
    
	
SECTION 8 Amendment and   Termination
    	
14
    
	
8.1
    	
Amendment or Termination
    	
14
    
	
8.2
    	
Effect of Amendment or Termination
    	
14
    

 

ii

 

SECTION 7
  Purpose and Administration

 

7.1                               Name of Plan. Carlisle Companies Incorporated, located at 13925 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Suite 400, Charlotte, NC  28277 and with employer tax identification number 31-1168055, hereby amends and restates the Carlisle Companies Incorporated Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) to add a matching contribution feature and make other clarifications, as set forth herein including the variable provisions selected and agreed to by the Company.

 

7.2                               Effective Date. The original effective date of this Plan is February 2, 2010.  The effective date of this amendment and restatement is January 1, 2012.

 

7.3                              Purpose.  The Company has established the Plan primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation to a select group of management or highly compensated employees of the Employers. The Plan is intended:

 

(1)           to comply with Code section 409A and official guidance issued thereunder, and

 

(2)           to be “a plan which is unfunded and is maintained by an employer primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees” within the meaning of sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, this Plan shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with these intentions.

 

The Company intends that the Plan (and each trust under the Plan as described in Section 6.1) shall be treated as unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of ERISA.  The Plan is not intended to qualify under Code section 401(a).  The Company’s obligations hereunder, if any, to a Participant (or to a Participant’s beneficiary) shall be unsecured and shall be a mere promise by the Company to make payments hereunder in the future.  A Participant (or the Participant’s beneficiary) shall be treated as a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

7.4                               Administration.

 

(a)                                  General.  The Plan shall be administered by the Plan Administrator.

 

The Plan Administrator shall have the powers, rights and duties set forth in the Plan and shall have the power, in the Plan Administrator’s sole and absolute discretion, to determine all questions arising under the Plan, including the determination of the rights of all persons with respect to the Plan and to interpret the provisions of the Plan and remedy any ambiguities, inconsistencies, or omissions.  Any decisions of the Plan Administrator shall be final and binding on all persons with respect to the Plan and the benefits provided under the Plan.  The Plan Administrator may delegate the Plan Administrator’s authority under the Plan to one or more officers or directors of the Company; provided, however, that (a) such delegation must be in writing, and (b) the officers or directors of the Company to whom the Plan Administrator is delegating authority must accept such delegation in writing.

 

If a Participant is serving as the Plan Administrator (either individually or as a member of a committee), the Participant may not decide or determine any matter or question concerning such Participant’s benefits under the Plan that the Participant would not have the right to decide or determine if the Participant were not serving as the Plan Administrator.

 

(b)                                 Upon Change in Control.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, upon and after a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator shall be (i) an independent third party selected by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, which may be Wells Fargo Bank, National

 

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Association, and approved by the individual who, immediately prior to such event, was the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or, if not so identified, the Company’s highest ranking officer (the “Ex-CEO”), or (ii) prior to the selection of an independent third party following a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator, as constituted prior to a Change in Control, shall continue to act as the Plan Administrator of the Plan until the date on which the independent third party is selected by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee and approved by the Ex-CEO.  The Plan Administrator shall have the powers, rights and duties set forth in Section 1.4(a); provided however, upon and after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator shall have no power to direct the investment of, or select any investment manager or custodial firm for, Company assets set aside in a grantor trust for purposes of satisfying the obligations of the Company under the Plan.  Upon and after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company must: (a) pay all reasonable administrative expenses and fees of the Plan Administrator; (b) indemnify the Plan Administrator against any costs, expenses and liabilities including, without limitation, attorney’s fees and expenses arising in connection with the performance of the Plan Administrator hereunder, except with respect to matters resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Plan Administrator or its employees or agents; and (c) supply full and timely information to the Plan Administrator on all matters relating to the Plan, the trust, the Participants and their beneficiaries, the account balances of the Participant’s, the date and circumstances of the Separation from Service or death of any Participant, and such other pertinent information as the Plan Administrator may reasonably require.  Upon and after a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator may be terminated (and a replacement appointed) by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee only with the approval of the Ex-CEO.  Upon and after a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator may not be terminated by the Company.

 

SECTION 8
  Definitions

 

For purposes of the Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth below, unless their context clearly requires a different meaning:

 

8.1                               Affiliate.  “Affiliate” has the meaning given such term under Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

8.2                               Associate.  “Associate” has the meaning given such term under Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

8.3                               Beneficial Owner.  “Beneficial Owner” has the meaning given such term under Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

8.4                               Bonus.  “Bonus” means an amount payable to an eligible Employee under an annual bonus or incentive compensation plan of the Company or a Subsidiary.

 

8.5                               Change in Control.  “Change in Control” shall occur in the event:  (i) any Person shall become directly or indirectly the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities for the election of directors or fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s then outstanding Common Shares, or (ii) any Person completes a tender offer pursuant to Regulation 14D promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision thereto, which results in such Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities for the election of directors or fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s then outstanding Company Stock.

 

8.6                               Change in Control Acceleration Event.  “Change in Control Acceleration Event” means a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company under section 409A(2)(A)(v) of the Code.

 

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8.7                               Code.  “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.  Any reference to a section of the Code includes any comparable section or sections of any future legislation that amends, supplements or supersedes that section.

 

8.8          Company.  “Company” means Carlisle Companies Incorporated, a Delaware corporation.

 

8.9                               Company Stock.  “Company Stock” means the common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of the Company.

 

8.10        Compensation.  “Compensation” means (select all options that apply):

 

x                                  Salary

 

x                                  Bonus

 

o                                    Excess Contributions

 

x                                  Other Compensation:  Restricted and performance shares awarded or earned under the Carlisle Companies Incorporated Executive Incentive Program or its successor.

 

8.11                        Deferral Election.  “Deferral Election” means a written irrevocable election filed by the Participant with the Employer specifying the amount of Compensation to be deferred by the Participant for a Plan Year.

 

8.12                        Deferred Compensation Account.  “Deferred Compensation Account” means the bookkeeping account maintained under the Plan in the Participant’s name to reflect amounts deferred under the Plan pursuant to Section 3 (as adjusted under Section 4) and any Matching Contributions made on behalf of the Participant pursuant to Section 3 (as adjusted under Section 4).  The Deferred Compensation Account shall be hypothetical in nature and shall be maintained for bookkeeping purposes only.  Neither the Plan nor the Deferred Compensation Account shall hold any actual funds or assets.  The Deferred Compensation Account shall consist of a Participant’s entire account balance.

 

8.13        Disabled.  A Participant shall be considered “Disabled” if (select all options that apply):

 

o                                    The Participant is unable to engage in any substantially gainful activity by reason of any medically determined physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months.

 

x                                  The Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participant’s employer.

 

8.14                        Distribution Election.  “Distribution Election” means an irrevocable election in a form acceptable to the Plan Administrator, which form may be electronic, filed by the Participant with the Employer specifying the time and form of payment for each type of Compensation deferred by the Participant pursuant to a Deferral Election with respect to such deferred Compensation.  Any Distribution Election made by a Participant with respect to a type of Compensation deferred by the Participant shall also apply to any Matching Contribution credited to the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account on account of such deferral.  At the time a Participant completes his Deferral Election, he may designate the time and form of payment of such deferred Compensation (and earnings thereon).  A Participant may elect to have the portion of his Deferred Compensation Account attributable to each Deferral Election paid at a different time and in a different form as follows.

 

(a)                                  Time.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.14(b) below, a Participant may elect for payment to be made, or begin to be made, within 90 business days following (1) the first business day of the seventh month following the Participant’s Separation from Service, (2) the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or tenth anniversary of the Participant’s Separation from Service,

 

3

 

(3) the earlier of an In-Service Date designated by the Participant or the first business day of the seventh month following the Participant’s Separation from Service or (4) an In-Service Date designated by the Participant with respect to a portion of the payment due with the remaining amount paid following the first business day of the seventh month following the Participant’s Separation from Service, if later.

 

(b)                                 Form.  For payments commencing as a result of a Participant’s Separation from Service on or after the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date, or an In-Service Date designated by the Participant, a Participant may elect to have the portion of his Deferred Compensation Account paid to the Participant in a lump sum payment or in annual installments (select all options that apply):

 

o            Over a period of three (3) years;

 

o            Over a period of five (5) years;

 

o            Over a period of ten (10) years; or

 

x           Over a period of up to ten (10) years.

 

The Deferred Compensation Account of a Participant who has a Separation from Service prior to the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum payment within 90 days following the first business day of the seventh month following the Participant’s Separation from Service regardless of the time or form of payment otherwise elected by the Participant.

 

8.15                        Employee.  “Employee” means an employee of an Employer who meets the eligibility criteria set forth in Section 3.1 of the Plan and who is a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees as defined under ERISA or the regulations thereunder.

 

8.16                        Employer.  “Employer” means, individually, the Company and each Participating Employer.  The Company and the Participating Employers are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Employers.”

 

8.17                        ERISA.  “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.  Any reference to a section of ERISA includes any comparable section or sections of any future legislation that amends, supplements or supersedes that section.

 

8.18                        Exchange Act.  “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.

 

8.19                        Group.  “Group” means persons and entities that act in concert as described in section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company or any Subsidiary thereof and other than any profit-sharing, employee stock ownership or any other employee benefit plan of the Company or such Subsidiary, or any trustee of or fiduciary with respect to any such plan when acting in such capacity and other than any executive officer of the Company).

 

8.20                       In-Service Date.  “In-Service Date” means April 1 of any year that begins at least twelve (12) months after the end of the period in which the deferred amount is earned.

 

8.21                        Investment Options.  The Plan Administrator will designate the hypothetical “Investment Options” available for Participant selection from time to time.  The Investment Options are described in Appendix A.

 

8.22                        Matching Contributions.  “Matching Contributions” means the amounts credited to a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account in accordance with Section 3.5.

 

8.23        Normal Retirement Date.  “Normal Retirement Date” means (select only one option):

 

x           The date the Participant attains 60 years of age.

 

4

 

o            The date the Participant attains            years of age and has completed at least          Years of Service.

 

8.24                        Other Compensation.  “Other Compensation” means any type of compensation (other than Salary and Bonus) which the Company in its sole discretion permits to be deferred in the Plan.

 

8.25                        Participant.  “Participant” means an Employee who meets the eligibility criteria set forth in Section 3.1 and who has made a Deferral Election in accordance with the terms of the Plan or otherwise had amounts credited to his Deferred Compensation Account.

 

8.26                        Participating Employer.  “Participating Employer” means any Subsidiary of the Company that adopts the Plan in accordance with Section 7.1 (select one option):

 

x                                  Which includes the Employers set forth on Appendix B.

 

o                                    None.

 

8.27                        Person.  “Person” means and includes any individual, corporation, partnership or other person or entity and any Group and all Affiliates and Associates of any such individual, corporation, partnership, or other person or entity or Group.

 

8.28                        Plan.  “Plan” means the nonqualified deferred compensation plan set forth herein and as amended from time to time.

 

8.29                        Plan Administrator.  The “Plan Administrator” means the Pension and Insurance Committee of Carlisle Corporation.

 

8.30        Plan Year.  “Plan Year” means (select one option):

 

x                                  the calendar year.  However, if the effective date of the Plan is other than January 1 of a year, the initial Plan Year shall be a short Plan Year, beginning on the effective date and ending on the following December 31.

 

o                                    the fiscal year ending                               .  However, if the effective date of the Plan is other than the first day of the fiscal year, the initial Plan Year shall be a short Plan Year, beginning on the effective date and ending on the following fiscal year end.

 

8.31                        Salary.  “Salary” means the regular base salary paid to an eligible Employee by the Company or a Subsidiary.

 

8.32                        Separation from Service.  “Separation from Service” or “Separates from Service” means a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code section 409A.

 

8.33                        Subsequent Distribution Election.  “Subsequent Distribution Election” means an election to change the time or form of payment of a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account balance pursuant to Section 5.7.

 

8.34                        Subsidiary.  “Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association or similar organization or entity (select one option):

 

x           In which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of equity interests.

 

o            Which includes the Participating Employers.

 

o            None.

 

5

 

8.35        Unforeseeable Emergency.  “Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship of the Participant resulting from:

 

(a)           A sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s beneficiary, the Participant’s spouse, or the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Code section 152(a));

 

(b)           Loss of Participant’s property due to casualty; or

 

(c)           Such other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances resulting from events beyond the control of the Participant.

 

Whether a Participant has an Unforeseeable Emergency shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Plan Administrator.

 

8.36        Valuation Date.  “Valuation Date” means each business day the financial markets and Wells Fargo Bank are open, unless the underlying investment requires a less frequent valuation.

 

SECTION 9
  Eligibility, Participation, Deferral Elections, and Matching Contributions

 

9.1          Eligibility and Participation.  Subject to the conditions and limitations of the Plan, the following persons are eligible to participate in the Plan (select and complete options(s) after consultation with legal counsel):

 

o            All Employees with a rank of                                        (insert title) or above and with total earnings of at least $135,000 for the 12 month period ending on the September 30th immediately prior to each Plan Year.

 

o            The following Employees of the Employers:

 

 

(Attach an addendum if necessary)

 

x           Such Employees as the Plan Administrator may select from time to time, in its sole discretion.

 

Any individuals specified above by an Employer may be changed by action of the Employer for the following Plan Year.  An Employee eligible to participate in the Plan shall become a Participant upon the execution and filing with the Plan Administrator of an election to defer a portion of the Employee’s Compensation, in a form acceptable to the Plan Administrator which may be electronic.  A Participant shall remain a Participant until the entire balance of the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account has been distributed.

 

9.2          Rules for Deferral and Distribution Elections.  Any Employee identified in Section 3.1 may make a separate Deferral Election to defer receipt of each type of Compensation selected in Section 2.10 in accordance with the rules set forth below:

 

(a)           All Deferral Elections must be made in the manner prescribed by the Plan Administrator and shall include a Distribution Election with respect to such Compensation (and earnings thereon).  Each Deferral Election will be effective only when filed with the Plan Administrator no later than the date specified by the Plan Administrator.  Subject to the immediately succeeding paragraph, in no event may a Deferral Election be made later than the last day of the Plan Year preceding the Plan Year in which the Compensation being deferred is earned.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the Plan Administrator determines that any Compensation qualifies as “performance-based compensation” under Code section 409A, an eligible Employee may elect to defer a portion of such Compensation by filing a Deferral Election at a later time up until the date six months before the end of the performance period as permitted by the Plan

 

6

 

Administrator, (2) in the first year in which an Employee becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, a Deferral Election may be made with respect to services to be performed subsequent to the election within 30 days after the date the Employee becomes eligible to participate in the Plan to the extent permitted under Code section 409A and (3) an election to defer Compensation attributable to restricted shares awarded under the Carlisle Companies Incorporated Executive Incentive Program (or its successor) may be made on or before the 30th date after such shares are awarded and such deferral election shall be given effect only if the shares become vested after the first anniversary of the date such shares are awarded.

 

Select one option (b) below:

 

(b)           x           With respect to Plan Years following the Participant’s initial Plan Year of participation in the Plan, failure to complete another Deferral Election for a Plan Year shall constitute a waiver of the Participant’s right to participate in the Plan for such Plan Year.

 

(b)           o            With respect to Plan Years following the Participant’s initial Plan Year of participation in the Plan, failure to complete another Deferral Election shall constitute a waiver of the Participant’s right to elect a different amount of Compensation to be deferred for each such Plan Year and shall be considered an affirmation and ratification to continue the Participant’s existing Deferral Election and corresponding Distribution Election.  However, a Participant may, prior to the beginning of any Plan Year, elect to increase or decrease the amount of Compensation to be deferred for the next following Plan Year by filing another Deferral Election with the Plan Administrator in accordance with paragraph (a) above.  The Participant may also file another Distribution Election with the Plan Administrator with respect to such deferred Compensation.

 

9.3          Amounts Deferred.  Commencing on the effective date, a Participant may elect to:  (complete for each item of Compensation selected in Section 2.10):

 

x           Defer up to 50% of Salary.

 

x           Defer up to 90% of Bonus.

 

x           Defer up to 100% of restricted and performance shares from the Carlisle Companies Incorporated Executive Incentive Program.

 

The amount of Compensation deferred by a Participant shall be credited to the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account as soon as administratively practicable after the date the Compensation would be paid to the Participant absent deferral.

 

9.4          Cancellation of Deferral Elections.  If a Participant becomes Disabled or obtains a distribution under Section 5.6 on account of an Unforeseeable Emergency during a Plan Year, his Deferral Election for such Plan Year shall be cancelled.

 

9.5          Matching Contributions.  Effective for Plan Years beginning on and after January 1, 2012, an amount shall be credited as a Matching Contribution to the Deferred Compensation Account of each Participant who made deferrals of Salary and/or Bonus under Section 3.3 in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of such deferrals up to a maximum of four percent (4%) of Salary and four percent (4%) of Bonus.  Matching Contributions shall be credited to the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account at the same time the corresponding Salary or Bonus deferral is credited to the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account under Section 3.3.

 

7

 

SECTION 10
  Deferred Compensation Accounts

 

10.1        Deferred Compensation Accounts.  All amounts deferred pursuant to one or more Deferral Elections, and any Matching Contributions under the Plan shall be credited to a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account and shall be adjusted under Section 4.2.

 

10.2        Deferral Account Adjustments and Hypothetical Investment Options.  As of each Valuation Date, the Plan Administrator shall adjust amounts in a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account to reflect earnings (or losses) in the Investment Options attributable to the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account.  Earnings (or losses) on amounts in a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall accrue commencing on the date the Deferred Compensation Account first has a positive balance and shall continue to accrue until the entire balance in the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account has been distributed.  Earnings (or losses) shall be credited to a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account based on the results that would have been achieved had amounts credited to the Deferred Compensation Account been invested as soon as practicable after crediting into the Investment Options selected by the Participant.  Nothing in this Subsection 4.2 or otherwise in the Plan, however, will require the Company to actually invest any amounts in such Investment Options or otherwise.

 

10.3        Vesting.  A Participant shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account attributable to the Participant’s Deferral Elections and any Matching Contributions.

 

10.4        Investment Options.  The Plan Administrator shall specify procedures to allow Participants to make elections as to the deemed investment of amounts newly credited to their Deferred Compensation Accounts, as well as the deemed investment of amounts previously credited to their Deferred Compensation Accounts.  Participant fund selections must be made to the Plan Administrator or designated agent.  Fund selections will be effective within a reasonable period of time as determined by the means used to communicate such selections and generally accepted business practices.

 

The Plan Administrator or its designated agent may take investment instructions from a Participant as of any business day regarding Investment Options.  Investment elections and/or transfer instructions may be accepted in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator.

 

The Plan Administrator shall designate the Investment Options available for selection under this Section 4.4.  Investment Options are selected solely for purposes of determining hypothetical gains and/or losses to a Participant’s bookkeeping account.  Neither the Plan nor any of the Deferred Compensation Accounts shall hold any actual funds or assets.  The Plan Administrator may change Investment Options at its discretion.

 

10.5        Special Rule for Company Stock Hypothetical Investment Option.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan that may be construed to the contrary, (a) shares of Company Stock deferred under the Plan shall remain allocated to the Company Stock Investment Option, (b) the portion of any Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account that is allocated to the Company Stock Investment Option shall at all times prior to distribution be allocated to the Company Stock Investment Option, and (c) the full balance of the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account that is allocated to the Company Stock Investment Option shall be distributed in the form of Company Stock.

 

SECTION 11
  Payment of Benefits

 

11.1        Time and Form of Payment.

 

(a)           Deferred Compensation Account.  Payment of a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be made in accordance with the Participant’s Distribution Election(s).  If no Distribution Election was made, then payment of such Deferred Compensation Account shall be distributed in a lump sum within 90 days following the first business day of the seventh month following the Participant’s Separation from Service.

 

(b)           Small Benefit Cashout.  Notwithstanding any Distribution Elections made by a Participant, if the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account balance is less than $25,000 at the time any

 

8

 

installment payment is to be made to the Participant, the entire remaining Deferred Compensation Account balance shall be distributed to the Participant in a lump sum.

 

11.2        Payment Upon Disability.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Distribution Election to the contrary, in the event a Participant becomes Disabled while the Participant is employed by or associated with an Employer, payment of the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be made in a lump sum payment within 90 days following the date on which the Participant becomes Disabled.  Whether a Participant is Disabled for purposes of the Plan shall be determined by the Plan Administrator, and in making such determination, the Plan Administrator may rely on the opinion of a physician(s) selected by the Plan Administrator for such purpose.

 

11.3        Payment Upon Death of a Participant.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Distribution Election to the contrary, a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be paid to the Participant’s beneficiary (designated in accordance with Section 5.5) in a lump sum payment within 90 days following the date of the Participant’s death.

 

11.4        Payment Upon Separation from Service within Twelve Months of Change in Control Acceleration Event.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Distribution Election to the contrary, a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum payment following the first business day of the seventh month following the Participant’s Separation from Service, if such Separation from Service occurs within 12 months after a Change in Control Acceleration Event.

 

11.5        Beneficiary.  The Participant may name a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive the balance of the Participant’s vested Deferred Compensation Account in the event of the Participant’s death prior to the payment of the Participant’s vested Deferred Compensation Account.  To be effective, any beneficiary designation must be made in accordance with rules and procedures adopted by the Plan Administrator for that purpose, which procedures may include electronic designations.  A Participant may revoke an existing beneficiary designation by filing another beneficiary designation with the Plan Administrator.  The latest beneficiary designation received by the Plan Administrator shall be controlling.  If no beneficiary is named by a Participant, or if the Participant survives all of the Participant’s named beneficiaries and does not designate another beneficiary, the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be paid in the following order of precedence:

 

(a)           The Participant’s spouse;

 

(b)           The Participant’s estate.

 

If (i) a Participant who is married designates the Participant’s spouse as the Participant’s beneficiary or (ii) a Participant who is registered as a domestic partner or has obtained a civil union license with another individual (in either event, such individual is hereafter referred to as the Participant’s “Domestic Partner”) designates the Participant’s Domestic Partner as the Participant’s beneficiary, and subsequent to such designation the Participant and the Participant’s spouse are divorced or the relationship between the Participant and the Participant’s Domestic Partner is legally dissolved, the designation of the Participant’s spouse or Domestic Partner as the Participant’s beneficiary (as the case may be) shall become void and shall have no further legal force or effect from and after such divorce or dissolution.  Should the Participant wish to designate a former spouse or Domestic Partner as his beneficiary, he must affirmatively do so by completing a new beneficiary designation form, after the date of his divorce or dissolution, naming his former spouse or Domestic Partner as his beneficiary.

 

11.6        Optional Distribution Alternative.  (select if applicable)

 

x           Unforeseeable Emergency.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Distribution Election to the contrary, if the Plan Administrator determines that a Participant has incurred an Unforeseeable Emergency, the Participant shall receive in a lump sum payment all or any portion of the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account needed to satisfy the Unforeseeable Emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, but only if the Unforeseeable Emergency may not be

 

9

 

relieved (a) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise; (b) by liquidation of the Participant’s assets to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship; or (c) by cessation of deferrals under the Plan.  A payment on account of an Unforeseeable Emergency shall not be in excess of the amount needed to relieve such Unforeseeable Emergency and shall be made within 90 days following the date of such Unforeseeable Emergency.

 

11.7        Changes in Time or Form of Distribution.  (select one option)

 

o            The Plan does not permit Subsequent Distribution Elections.

 

x           The Plan permits Subsequent Distribution Elections solely with respect to distributions under Section 5.1(a).

 

If applicable, the Plan Administrator may establish procedures for making a Subsequent Distribution Election in accordance with the requirements of Code section 409A.  In addition to the requirements the Plan Administrator may establish, a Participant may make a Subsequent Distribution Election by filing an irrevocable written form with the Plan Administrator, but only if the following conditions are satisfied:

 

(a)           The Subsequent Distribution Election may not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the election is made;

 

(b)           A distribution may not be made earlier than at least five (5) years from the date the distribution would have otherwise been made; and

 

(c)           In the case of an election to change the time or form of a distribution related to a payment at a specified time, the Subsequent Distribution Election must be made at least twelve (12) months before the date of the first scheduled distribution.

 

11.8        Effect of Early Taxation.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Distribution Election to the contrary, if a Participant’s benefits under the Plan are includible in income pursuant to Code section 409A, such benefits shall be distributed immediately to the Participant.

 

11.9        Permitted Delays.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any payment to a Participant under the Plan shall be delayed upon the Plan Administrator’s reasonable anticipation of one or more of the following events:

 

(a)           The Company’s deduction with respect to such payment would be eliminated by application of Code section 162(m); or

 

(b)           The making of the payment would violate Federal securities laws or other applicable law;

 

provided, that any payment delayed pursuant to this Section 5.9 shall be paid in accordance with Code section 409A.

 

11.10     Withholding of Taxes.  In connection with the Plan, the Employers, or a properly designated agent, may withhold any applicable Federal, state or local income tax and employment taxes, including Social Security taxes, at such time and in such amounts from a benefit payment under the Plan or a Participant’s wages or reduce a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account as is necessary to comply with applicable laws and regulations.  The Employers, or a properly designated agent, shall report Plan payments and other Plan-related information to the appropriate governmental agencies as required under applicable laws.

 

10

 

SECTION 12
  Miscellaneous

 

12.1        Rights Unsecured.  Any payments by a trust of benefits provided to a Participant under the Plan shall be considered payment by the Company and shall discharge the Company from any further liability under the Plan for such payments.  Any funds set aside by the Company for the purpose of meeting its obligations under the Plan, including any amounts held by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (or any successor), as trustee, shall continue for all purposes to be part of the general assets of the Company and shall be available to its general creditors in the event of the Company’s bankruptcy or insolvency.  The Company’s obligation under this Plan shall be that of an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future.

 

The Company shall establish and maintain one or more grantor trust(s) to hold assets to be used for payment of benefits under the Plan.

 

12.2        No Enlargement of Rights.  Establishment of the Plan shall not be construed to give any Employee the right to be retained by the Employers or to any benefits not specifically provided by the Plan.  Any liability of the Company to any Participant, former Participant, or Participant’s beneficiary with respect to a right to payment under the Plan shall be based solely upon contractual obligations created by the Plan.

 

12.3        Interests Not Transferable.  Except as to withholding of any tax under the laws of the United States or any state or locality and the provisions of Section 5.10, no benefit payable at any time under the Plan shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, or any other encumbrance of any kind or to any attachment, garnishment, or other legal process of any kind.  Any attempt by a person (including a Participant or a Participant’s beneficiary) to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or otherwise encumber any benefits under the Plan, whether currently or thereafter payable, shall be void.  If any person shall attempt to, or shall alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber such person’s benefits under the Plan, or if by any reasons of such person’s bankruptcy or other event happening at any time, such benefits would devolve upon any other person or would not be enjoyed by the person entitled thereto under the Plan, then the Plan Administrator, in the Plan Administrator’s sole discretion, may terminate the interest in any such benefits of the person otherwise entitled thereto under the Plan and may hold or apply such benefits in such manner as the Plan Administrator may deem proper.

 

12.4        Domestic Relations Orders.

 

If applicable and notwithstanding Section 6.3, all or a portion of a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account balance may be paid to another person as specified in a domestic relations order that the Company determines is qualified (a “Qualified Domestic Relations Order”).  For this purpose, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order means a judgment, decree, or order (including the approval of a settlement agreement) which:

 

(a)           is issued pursuant to a State’s domestic relations law;

 

(b)           relates to the provision of child support, alimony payments or marital property rights to a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent of the Participant;

 

(c)           creates or recognizes the right of a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent of the Participant to receive all or a portion of the Participant’s benefits under the Plan;

 

(d)           provides for an immediate lump sum payment as soon as administratively possible after the Company determines that a Qualified Domestic Relations Order exists; and

 

(e)           meets such other requirements established by the Company.

 

The Plan Administrator shall determine whether any document received by it is a Qualified Domestic Relations Order.  In making this determination, the Company may consider the rules applicable to “domestic relations orders” under Code section 414(p) and ERISA section 206(d), and such other rules and procedures as it deems relevant.  If an order is determined to be a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, the amount to which the other person is entitled under such order shall be paid in a lump sum payment as soon as administratively possible after such determination, but in no event later than 90 days following such date.

 

11

 

12.5                        Forfeitures and Unclaimed Amounts.  Unclaimed amounts shall consist of the amounts in the Deferred Compensation Account of a Participant that cannot be distributed because of the Plan Administrator’s inability, after a reasonable search, to locate a Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, as applicable, within a period of two years after the distribution date upon which the payment of benefits became due.  Unclaimed amounts shall be forfeited at the end of such two-year period.  If a valid claim is subsequently made for the forfeited amount, such amount shall be restored (less any income tax withholdings and without adjustment for interim earnings or losses) as if there had been no forfeiture.

 

12.6                        Controlling Law.  The law of the state of North Carolina shall be controlling in all matters relating to the Plan to the extent not preempted by Federal Law.

 

12.7                        Words and Headings.  Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine and the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa, unless qualified by the context.  Any headings used herein are included for ease of reference only, and are not to be construed so as to alter the terms hereof.

 

12.8                        Action by the Employers.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, any action required of or permitted to be taken by an Employer under the Plan shall be by resolution of its Board of Directors or by resolution of a duly authorized committee of its Board of Directors or by action of a person or persons authorized by resolution of such Board of Directors or such committee.

 

12.9                        No Fiduciary Relationship.  Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions by either the Employers or the Participants shall create, or be construed to create a fiduciary relationship between the Employer and the Participant, a designated beneficiary, other beneficiaries of the Participant, or any other person.

 

12.10      Claims Procedures.

 

(a)                                  Initial Review.  Any person (hereinafter referred to as a “Claimant”) who believes that he or she is being denied a benefit to which he or she may be entitled under the Plan may file a written request for such benefit with the Plan Administrator.  Such written request must set forth the Claimant’s claim and must be addressed to the Plan Administrator, at the Company’s principal place of business.  Upon receipt of a claim, the Plan Administrator shall advise the Claimant that a reply will be forthcoming within ninety days and shall deliver a reply within ninety days.  If special circumstances (such as for a hearing) require a longer period, the Plan Administrator may extend the reply period for an additional ninety days so long as the Plan Administrator notifies the Claimant in writing, prior to the expiration of the ninety day period, of the reasons for an extension of time.  If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Plan Administrator shall issue a written determination, using language calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth:

 

(1)                                  The specific reason or reasons for such denial;

 

(2)                                  The specific reference to pertinent provisions of the Plan upon which such denial is based;

 

(3)                                  A description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect the Claimant’s claim and an explanation why such material or such information is necessary; and

 

(4)                                  Appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit the claim for review, including the time limits for requesting such a review and the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA section 502(a) following an adverse benefit determination on review.

 

(b)                                 Review of Denial.  Within sixty days after the receipt by the Claimant of the written determination described above, the Claimant may request in writing, that the Plan Administrator review the initial claim determination.  The request must be addressed to the Plan Administrator, at the Company’s 

 

12

 

principal place of business.  The Claimant or the Claimant’s duly authorized representative will have, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the Claimant’s claims for benefits and may submit issues and comments in writing for consideration by the Plan Administrator.  The review will take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

If the claimant does not request a review of the Plan Administrator’s determination within such sixty day period, the Claimant shall be barred and estopped from challenging the Plan Administrator’s determination.  If the Claimant does file a request for review, his request must include a description of the issues and evidence he deems relevant.  Failure to raise issues or present evidence on review will preclude those issues or evidence from being presented in any subsequent proceeding or judicial review of the claim.

 

Within sixty days after the Plan Administrator’s receipt of a request for review, the Plan Administrator will render a decision.  After considering all materials presented by the Claimant, the Plan Administrator will render a written determination, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant setting forth:

 

(1)                                  The specific reasons for the adverse determination;

 

(2)                                  The specific references to the pertinent provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based;

 

(3)                                  A statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the Claimant’s claim for benefits; and

 

(4)                                  A statement describing any voluntary appeal procedures offered by the Plan and the Claimant’s right to obtain the information about such procedures, as well as a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring an action under ERISA section 502(a).

 

If special circumstances require that the sixty day time period be extended, the Plan Administrator will so notify the Claimant in writing before the end of the sixty day period and will render the decision as soon as practicable, but no later than one hundred twenty days after receipt of the request for review.

 

(c)                                  Finality of Determinations; Exhaustion of Remedies.  To the extent permitted by law, decisions reached under the claims procedures set forth in this Section 6.10 shall be final and binding on all parties. No legal action for benefits under the Plan shall be brought unless and until the Claimant has exhausted his remedies under this Section 6.10.  In any such legal action, the Claimant may only present evidence and theories which the Claimant presented during the claims procedure. Any claims which the Claimant does not in good faith pursue through the review stage of the procedure shall be treated as having been irrevocably waived.  Judicial review of a Claimant’s denied claim shall be limited to a determination of whether the denial was an abuse of discretion based on the evidence and theories the Claimant presented during the claims procedure.

 

(d)                                 Limitations Period.  Any suit or legal action initiated by a Claimant under the Plan must be brought by the Claimant no later than one year following a final decision on the claim for benefits by the Plan Administrator.  The one-year limitation on suits for benefits will apply in any forum where a Claimant initiates such suit or legal action.

 

12.11                 Disability Claims.  Claims for disability benefits shall be determined under DOL Regulation section 2560.503-1 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

13

 

12.12                 Notice.  Any notice required or permitted to be given under the provisions of the Plan shall be in writing, and shall be signed by the party giving or making the same.  If such notice, consent or demand is mailed to a party hereto, it shall be sent by United States certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such party’s last known address as shown on the records of the Employers.  Notices to the Plan Administrator should be sent in care of the Company at the Company’s principal place of business.  The date of such mailing shall be deemed the date of notice.  Either party may change the address to which notice is to be sent by giving notice of the change of address in the manner set forth above.

 

12.13                 No Guarantee of Benefits.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guarantee by the Company or any other person or entity that the assets of the Company will be sufficient to pay any benefits hereunder.

 

12.14                 Incapacity of Recipient.  If any person entitled to a distribution under the Plan is deemed by the Plan Administrator to be incapable of personally receiving and giving a valid receipt for such payment, then, unless and until a claim for such payment shall have been made by a duly appointed guardian or other legal representative of such person, the Plan Administrator may provide for such payment or any part thereof to be made to any other person or institution then contributing toward or providing for the care and maintenance of such person.  Any such payment shall be a payment for the account of such person and a complete discharge of any liability of the Company and the Plan with respect to the payment.

 

12.15                 Corporate Successors.  The Plan and the obligations of the Company under the Plan shall become the responsibility of any successor to the Company by reason of a transfer or sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company or by the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other corporation or other entity.

 

12.16                 Severability.  In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held invalid or illegal for any reason, any illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, but the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been inserted.

 

12.17                 Indemnification.  To the extent not covered by insurance, the Company shall indemnify the Plan Administrator, each employee, officer, director, and agent of the Company, and all persons formerly serving in such capacities, against any and all liabilities or expenses, including all legal fees relating thereto, arising in connection with the exercise of their duties and responsibilities with respect to the Plan, provided however that the Company shall not indemnify any person for liabilities or expenses due to that person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

SECTION 13
  Employer Participation

 

13.1                        Adoption of Plan.  Any Subsidiary of the Company may, with the approval of the Company, adopt the Plan by filing with the Company a resolution of its board of directors to that effect.

 

13.2                        Withdrawal from the Plan by Employer.  Any Participating Employer shall have the right, at any time, upon the approval of, and under such conditions as may be provided by the Plan Administrator, to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with the requirements under Code section 409A by delivering to the Plan Administrator written notice of its election so to withdraw.

 

SECTION 14
  Amendment and Termination

 

14.1                        Amendment or Termination.  The Company intends the Plan to be permanent, but reserves the right to modify, amend or terminate the Plan when, in the sole discretion of the Company, such amendment or termination is advisable.

 

14.2                        Effect of Amendment or Termination.  No amendment or termination of the Plan shall reduce or eliminate any vested balance in a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account accrued through the date of such amendment or termination.  However, an amendment may freeze or limit future deferrals or credits of 

 

14

 

benefits under the Plan on and after the date of such amendment.  Upon termination of the Plan, distribution of Plan benefits shall be made to Participants and beneficiaries in the manner and at the time described in Section 5, unless the Company determines in its sole discretion that all such amounts shall be distributed upon termination in accordance with the requirements under Code section 409A.  Upon termination of the Plan, no further deferrals of Compensation shall be permitted; provided, however, earnings, gains and losses shall continue to be credited to each Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account balance in accordance with Section 4 until the vested Deferred Compensation Account balances are fully distributed.

 

15

 

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Plan to be executed by its duly authorized officers on this 21st day of December, 2011.

 

 

	
 
    	
CARLISLE   COMPANIES INCORPORATED
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
S/Steven Ford
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Steven Ford
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
    

 

16

 

Appendix A

 

Investment Options

 

	
1.
    	
Company   Stock—a fund invested solely in shares of Company Stock.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.
    	
Fixed   Income—a fund that credits interest at a variable rate per annum equal to the   yield on ten-year U.S. Treasury notes plus 200 bps. The yield on ten-year   U.S. Treasury notes shall be determined as of the last day of the month   preceding the beginning of each calendar quarter.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.
    	
Other   mutual fund selections specified from time to time by the Plan Administrator.
    

 

 

Appendix B

 

Participating Employers

 

Current Participating Employers

Carlisle Management Company

Carlisle Construction Materials Incorporated

Carlisle Transportation Products, Inc.

Carlisle Industrial Brake & Friction, Inc.

Carlisle Interconnect Technologies

Carlisle FoodService Products, Incorporated

 

Former Participating Employers

Trail King Industries, Inc.

 

 

Participating Employers also includes all subsidiaries of the listed companies.

 

2Exhibit 4.1

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of                                         , 2012

 

by and between

 

TWIN CITIES POWER HOLDINGS, LLC, as obligor

 

and

 

                                                            ,

 

, as trustee

 

 

$50,000,000

 

Renewable Unsecured Subordinated Notes

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
    	
1
    
	
Section 1.1
    	
Definitions
    	
1
    
	
Section 1.2
    	
Other Definitions
    	
6
    
	
Section 1.3
    	
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
    	
6
    
	
Section 1.4
    	
Rules of Construction
    	
6
    
	
ARTICLE II THE SECURITIES
    	
7
    
	
Section 2.1
    	
Security Terms; Amount; Accounts; Interest; Maturity
    	
7
    
	
Section 2.2
    	
Written Confirmation; Rejection; Rescission
    	
10
    
	
Section 2.3
    	
Registrar and Paying Agent
    	
11
    
	
Section 2.4
    	
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust
    	
12
    
	
Section 2.5
    	
List of Holders
    	
12
    
	
Section 2.6
    	
Transfer and Exchange
    	
12
    
	
Section 2.7
    	
Payment of Principal and Interest; Principal and Interest   Rights Preserved
    	
13
    
	
Section 2.8
    	
Outstanding Securities
    	
14
    
	
Section 2.9
    	
Treasury Securities
    	
14
    
	
Section 2.10
    	
Defaulted Interest
    	
14
    
	
Section 2.11
    	
Temporary Notes
    	
15
    
	
Section 2.12
    	
Execution, Authentication And   Delivery
    	
15
    
	
Section 2.13
    	
Book-Entry Registration
    	
16
    
	
Section 2.14
    	
Initial and Periodic Statements
    	
17
    
	
Section 2.15
    	
Appointment of Agents
    	
17
    
	
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION AND   REPURCHASE
    	
17
    
	
Section 3.1
    	
Redemption of Securities at the Company’s Election
    	
17
    
	
Section 3.2
    	
Repurchase of Securities at the Holder’s Request
    	
18
    
	
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS
    	
20
    
	
Section 4.1
    	
Payment of Securities
    	
20
    
	
Section 4.2
    	
Maintenance of Office or Agency
    	
20
    
	
Section 4.3
    	
SEC Reports and Other Reports
    	
21
    
	
Section 4.4
    	
Compliance Certificate
    	
21
    
	
Section 4.5
    	
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws
    	
22
    
	
Section 4.6
    	
Liquidation
    	
22
    
	
Section 4.7
    	
Intentionally Omitted
    	
23
    
	
Section 4.8
    	
Restrictive Covenants
    	
23
    
	
Section 4.9
    	
Securitization Transactions and Additional Indebtedness
    	
23
    
	
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS
    	
23
    
	
Section 5.1
    	
When the Company May Merge, etc.
    	
23
    
	
Section 5.2
    	
Successor Entity Substituted
    	
24
    
	
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND   REMEDIES
    	
24
    
	
Section 6.1
    	
Events of Default
    	
24
    
	
Section 6.2
    	
Acceleration
    	
25
    
	
Section 6.3
    	
Other Remedies
    	
25
    
	
Section 6.4
    	
Waiver of Past Defaults
    	
26
    
	
Section 6.5
    	
Control by Majority
    	
26
    
	
Section 6.6
    	
Limitation on Suits
    	
26
    
	
Section 6.7
    	
Rights of Holders to Receive Payment
    	
27
    
	
Section 6.8
    	
Collection Suit by Trustee
    	
27
    

 

 

	
Section 6.9
    	
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
    	
27
    
	
Section 6.10
    	
Priorities
    	
28
    
	
Section 6.11
    	
Undertaking for Costs
    	
28
    
	
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE
    	
28
    
	
Section 7.1
    	
Duties of Trustee
    	
28
    
	
Section 7.2
    	
Rights of Trustee
    	
30
    
	
Section 7.3
    	
Individual Rights of Trustee
    	
31
    
	
Section 7.4
    	
Trustee’s Disclaimer
    	
31
    
	
Section 7.5
    	
Notice of Defaults
    	
31
    
	
Section 7.6
    	
Reports by Trustee to Holders
    	
31
    
	
Section 7.7
    	
Compensation and Indemnity
    	
31
    
	
Section 7.8
    	
Replacement of Trustee
    	
32
    
	
Section 7.9
    	
Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
    	
33
    
	
Section 7.10
    	
Eligibility; Disqualification
    	
33
    
	
Section 7.11
    	
Preferential Collection of Claims   Against Company
    	
34
    
	
ARTICLE VIII DISCHARGE OF   INDENTURE
    	
34
    
	
Section 8.1
    	
Termination of Company’s Obligations
    	
34
    
	
Section 8.2
    	
Application of Trust Money
    	
35
    
	
Section 8.3
    	
Repayment to Company
    	
35
    
	
Section 8.4
    	
Reinstatement
    	
35
    
	
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS
    	
36
    
	
Section 9.1
    	
Without Consent of Holders
    	
36
    
	
Section 9.2
    	
With Consent of Holders
    	
36
    
	
Section 9.3
    	
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act
    	
36
    
	
Section 9.4
    	
Effect of Consents
    	
38
    
	
Section 9.5
    	
Notation on or Exchange of Securities
    	
38
    
	
Section 9.6
    	
Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
    	
38
    
	
ARTICLE X SUBORDINATION
    	
38
    
	
Section 10.1
    	
Agreement to Subordinate
    	
38
    
	
Section 10.2
    	
Liquidation; Dissolution;   Bankruptcy
    	
39
    
	
Section 10.3
    	
Default of Senior Debt
    	
40
    
	
Section 10.4
    	
When Distribution Must Be Paid   Over
    	
41
    
	
Section 10.5
    	
Notice by Company
    	
41
    
	
Section 10.6
    	
Subrogation
    	
41
    
	
Section 10.7
    	
Relative Rights
    	
42
    
	
Section 10.8
    	
Subordination May Not Be   Impaired by the Company or Holders of Senior Debt
    	
42
    
	
Section 10.9
    	
Distribution or Notice to   Representative
    	
43
    
	
Section 10.10
    	
Rights of Trustee and Paying   Agent
    	
44
    
	
Section 10.11
    	
Authorization to Effect   Subordination
    	
44
    
	
Section 10.12
    	
Article Applicable to Paying   Agent
    	
44
    
	
Section 10.13
    	
Miscellaneous
    	
44
    
	
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS
    	
45
    
	
Section 11.1
    	
Trust Indenture Act Controls
    	
45
    
	
Section 11.2
    	
Notices
    	
45
    
	
Section 11.3
    	
Communication by Holders with   Other Holders
    	
46
    

 

ii

 

	
Section 11.4
    	
Certificate and Opinion as to   Conditions Precedent
    	
46
    
	
Section 11.5
    	
Statements Required in   Certificate or Opinion
    	
46
    
	
Section 11.6
    	
Rules by Trustee and Agents
    	
47
    
	
Section 11.7
    	
Legal Holidays
    	
47
    
	
Section 11.8
    	
No Recourse Against Others
    	
47
    
	
Section 11.9
    	
Duplicate Originals
    	
47
    
	
Section 11.10
    	
Governing Law
    	
47
    
	
Section 11.11
    	
No Adverse Interpretation of   Other Agreements
    	
48
    
	
Section 11.12
    	
Successors
    	
48
    
	
Section 11.13
    	
Severability
    	
48
    
	
Section 11.14
    	
Counterpart Originals
    	
48
    
	
Section 11.15
    	
Table of Contents,   Headings, etc.
    	
48
    
	
Section 11.16
    	
USA Patriot Act
    	
48
    
	
Section 11.17
    	
Force Majeure
    	
48
    

 

EXHIBITS:

 

A — Form of Note

 

iii

 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

	
*Trust Indenture Act Section
    	
 
    	
Indenture Section
    
	
310(a)(1)
    	
 
    	
7.10
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
7.10
    
	
(a)(3)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(a)(4)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(a)(5)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
7.8; 7.10
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
311(a)
    	
 
    	
7.11
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
7.11
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
312(a)
    	
 
    	
2.5
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
11.3
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
11.3
    
	
313(a)
    	
 
    	
7.6
    
	
(b)(1)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(b)(2)
    	
 
    	
7.6
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
7.6; 11.2
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
7.6
    
	
314(a)
    	
 
    	
4.3; 4.4; 11.2
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(c)(1)
    	
 
    	
11.4
    
	
(c)(2)
    	
 
    	
11.4
    
	
(c)(3)
    	
 
    	
11.4; 1.1
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(e)
    	
 
    	
11.5
    
	
(f)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
315(a)
    	
 
    	
7.1(b)
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
7.5; 11.2
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
7.1(a)
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
7.1(c)
    
	
(e)
    	
 
    	
6.11
    
	
316(a)(last   sentence)
    	
 
    	
2.9
    
	
(a)(1)(A)
    	
 
    	
6.5
    
	
(a)(1)(B)
    	
 
    	
6.4
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
6.7
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
317(a)(1)
    	
 
    	
6.8
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
6.9
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
2.4
    
	
318(a)
    	
 
    	
11.1
    

 

N.A. means not applicable

* This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture

 

 

THIS INDENTURE is hereby entered into as of                                     , 2012, by and between Twin Cities Power Holdings, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (the “Company”), as obligor, and                                                                           , a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

The Company and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the renewable, unsecured, subordinated debt securities of the Company issued pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about                                           , 2012 (the “Registration Statement”):

 

ARTICLE I
 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.1                                   Definitions.

 

“Account” means the record of beneficial ownership of a Security maintained by the Registrar.

 

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

 

“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar of the Securities or any Person appointed and retained by the Company to perform certain of the duties or obligations, or exercise certain of the rights and discretions, of the Company hereunder, on behalf of the Company pursuant to Section 2.15 hereof.

 

“Board of Governors” means the Board of Governors of the Company or any authorized committee of the Board of Governors.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

 

“Company” means Twin Cities Power Holdings, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company, unless and until replaced by a successor in accordance with Article V hereof and thereafter means such successor.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office is, at the date as of which this Indenture is originally dated, located at                                                                                                                                     .

 

“Default” means any event that is or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default.

 

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 hereof.

 

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

 

“Fiscal Year” means a year ending December 31.

 

“GAAP” means, as of any date, generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time.

 

“Guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.

 

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

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person and without duplication, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including capital lease obligations) or the expenditure for any services or representing any interest rate swap or other hedging obligations, including without limitation, any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or an account or trade payable, if and to the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and hedging obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, and also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, (a) the Guarantee of items that would be included within this definition, and (b) liability for items that would arise by operation of a Person’s status as a general partner of a partnership.

 

“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

“Interest Accrual Period” means, as to each Security, the period from the later of the Issue Date of such Security or the last Payment Date upon which an interest payment was made until and including the day before the following Payment Date during which interest accrues on each Security with respect to any Payment Date.

 

“Issue Date” means, with respect to any Security, the date on which such Security is deemed registered on the books and records of the Registrar, which shall be (i) the date the Company accepts funds for the purchase of the Security if such funds are received prior to 12:01 p.m. (Central Time) on a Business Day, or if such funds are not so received, on the next Business Day, or (ii) the date that the Security is renewed as of the Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.1(e).

 

“Maturity Date” means, with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein provided.

 

2

 

“Maturity Record Date” means, with respect to any Security, as of 11:59 p.m. of the date 15 days prior to the Maturity Date or Redemption Date applicable to such Security.

 

“Notice of Maturity” means a written notice from the Company to a Holder (as further described in Section 2.1(d)) that the Holder’s Securities will be maturing on the related Maturity Date occurring within 15 days but not less than 10 days of the delivery of such notice.

 

“Obligations” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, any principal, premium, interest (including Post-Petition Interest), penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities or amounts of whatever nature payable under the documentation governing, or with respect to, any such Indebtedness.

 

“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board or principal executive officer of the Company, the President or principal operating officer of the Company, the Chief Financial Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, the Treasurer, Controller or principal accounting officer of the Company, Secretary or any Executive or Senior Vice-President of the Company.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, principal operating officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company; provided, however, that if the opinion of an accountant is required pursuant to TIA § 314(c)(3), the certificate must be signed by an Officer who is an accountant.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

 

“Pari Passu Debt” means any Indebtedness of the Company that is payable on a pari passu basis with the Securities.

 

“Payment Account” means the bank account designated by the Holder to receive payments of interest and/or principal due on such Holder’s Securities, as may be amended by the Holder by written notice to the Registrar from time to time.

 

“Payment Date” means (i) with respect to any Security for which monthly interest payments are required to be made, the first day of the following calendar month or such other date as is designated by the Holder pursuant to subsection 2.1(c), (ii) with respect to any Security for which interest is required to be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually, the same day of the month as the quarterly, semi-annual or annual anniversary of the Issue Date of the Security (except in the case where the Issue Date of a Security is the 29th, 30th or 31st day of the month and there is no like date in the anniversary month, in which case the Payment Date for such month shall be the first day of the following month) and (iii) with respect to each Security, the Maturity Date (or such date following the Maturity Date on which payment is made pursuant to subsection 2.1(d) hereof), the Repurchase Date or the Redemption Date of the Security; provided, that if any such day in the preceding clauses (i) through (iii) is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately following such day.

 

3

 

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

 

“Post-Petition Interest” means interest accruing after the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding with respect to the Company or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, at the rate applicable to the related Indebtedness, whether or not such interest is an allowable claim in any such proceeding.

 

“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement  at the time it was declared effective by the SEC, as supplemented by any prospectus supplement (including interest rate supplements) relating to the Securities that are filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.  References herein to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated therein by reference.

 

“Receivables” means installment sale contracts, loans evidenced by promissory notes secured by assets, leases, mortgages or other finance receivables or instruments purchased, originated or owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

“Redemption Notice” means a written notice from the Company to the Holders (as further described in Section 2.1(f)) stating that the Company is redeeming all or a specified portion of Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, with a copy to the Registrar and the Trustee.

 

“Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the principal amount of such Security plus the interest accrued but unpaid during the Interest Accrual Period up to and not including the Redemption Date for such Security.

 

“Regular Record Date” means, with respect to each Payment Date, as of 11:59 p.m. of the date 15 days prior to such Payment Date.

 

“Repayment Election” means a written notice from a Holder to the Company (as further described in Section 2.1(d)) stating that repayment of the Holder’s Securities is required in connection with the maturity of such Securities.

 

“Repurchase Price” means, with respect to any Security to be repurchased, the principal amount of such Security plus the interest accrued but unpaid during the Interest Accrual Period up to and not including the Repurchase Date for such Security, minus the Repurchase Penalty, if any.

 

“Repurchase Request” means a written notice from a Holder to the Company (as further described in Section 2.1(g)) stating that such Holder is making an irrevocable request for the Company to repurchase such Holder’s Securities pursuant to Section 3.2.

 

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer in its Corporate Trust Office, or any other assistant officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall

 

4

 

be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

“Security” or “Securities” means, the Company’s renewable, unsecured, subordinated notes issued under this Indenture pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

“Senior Debt” means any Indebtedness other than the Securities and any Pari Passu Debt (whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created) incurred by the Company (including its subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness is or is not specifically designated by the Company as being “Senior Debt” in its defining instruments.  “Senior Debt” includes, without limitation, Indebtedness pursuant to that certain Promissory Note, dated October 1, 2011, payable to Robert O. Schachter, HTS Capital, LLC, and Clearwaters Capital, LLC, as the same may be amended or novated.

 

“Subscription Agreement” means a Subscription Agreement entered into by a Person under which such Person has committed to purchase certain Securities as identified thereby and which is in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement.

 

“Servicing Agent” means Redwater LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company.

 

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA.

 

“Total Permanent Disability” means a determination by a physician approved by the Company that the Holder of a Security who is a natural person, who was gainfully employed on a full time basis at the Issue Date of such Security is unable to work on a full time basis during the succeeding twenty-four months. For purposes of this definition, “working on a full time basis” shall mean working at least forty hours per week.

 

“Trustee” means                                                                 , until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States of America, or any agency or instrumentality thereof for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

 

“Written Confirmation” means a written confirmation of the acceptance of a subscription for, or the transfer or pledge of, a Security or Securities in the form of a transaction statement executed or issued by the Company or its duly authorized Agent and delivered to the Holder of such Security or Securities with a copy to the Registrar and the Trustee, which is in substantially the form of Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement.

 

5

 

Section 1.2                                   Other Definitions.

 

	
Term
    	
 
    	
Defined in Section
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Bankruptcy   Law”
    	
 
    	
6.1
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Custodian”
    	
 
    	
6.1
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Event   of Default”
    	
 
    	
6.1
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Legal   Holiday”
    	
 
    	
11.7
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Paying   Agent”
    	
 
    	
2.3
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Payment   Blockage Period”
    	
 
    	
10.3
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Payment   Notice”
    	
 
    	
10.3
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Redemption   Date”
    	
 
    	
2.1
    	
(f)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Registrar”
    	
 
    	
2.3
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Registration   Statement”
    	
 
    	
Introduction
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Repurchase   Date”
    	
 
    	
3.2
    	
(d)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Repurchase   Penalty”
    	
 
    	
3.2
    	
(b)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Securities   Register”
    	
 
    	
2.3
    	
 
    

 

Section 1.3                                   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

“indenture securities” means the Securities;

 

“indenture security holder” means any Holder of the Securities;

 

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

 

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

 

“obligor” on the Securities means the Company or any successor obligor upon the Securities.

 

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

 

Section 1.4                                   Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires: (a) a term has the meaning assigned to it; (b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

6

 

(c) references to GAAP, as of any date, shall mean GAAP in effect in the United States as of such date; (d) “or” is not exclusive; (e) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and (f) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.

 

ARTICLE II
 THE SECURITIES

 

Section 2.1                                   Security Terms; Amount; Accounts; Interest; Maturity.

 

(a)  Unlimited Amount and Form of Security.  The outstanding aggregate principal amount of Securities to be issued hereunder (absent an amendment to the Registration Statement) is limited to $50,000,000.  The Securities are unsecured obligations of the Company and shall be subordinate in right of payment to the Senior Debt of the Company as further described in Article X.  The Securities are an obligation and liability of the Company, and not of any other Person, including, without limitation, any member, Governor, Officer, employee, Affiliate or Agent of the Company.  The Securities are not certificates of deposit or similar obligations of, and are not guaranteed or insured by, any depository institution, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, any other governmental or private fund, any securities insurer or any other Person.

 

In the event issued in certificated form pursuant to Section 2.13(b): (i) the Securities, together with the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be in substantially the form set forth as Exhibit A to this Indenture, with any appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities; (ii) any portion of the text of any Securities may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Securities; and (iii) the Securities may be subject to notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, or agreements to which the Company is subject or usage.

 

(b)  Book-Entry; Denominations; Term.  Except as provided in Section 2.13(b), each Security shall neither be issued as, nor evidenced by, a promissory note or certificated security, but rather each Security shall be issued in book entry or uncertificated form, in which the record of beneficial ownership of each such Security shall be established and maintained as Accounts by the Registrar pursuant to Section 2.13.  In connection with the issuance of each Security in book entry form in accordance with Section 2.13, each such Security shall be deemed to be represented in an uncertificated form that includes the same terms and provisions as those set forth in the form of Security in Exhibit A to this Indenture, and the related Account for each such Security shall be deemed to include these same terms and provisions.

 

7

 

Each Security shall be in such denominations as provided by this Indenture and as may be designated from time to time by the Company, but in no event in an original denomination less than $1,000. Separate purchases may not be cumulated to satisfy the minimum denomination requirements. Each Security shall have a term of three or six months, or one, two, three, four, five or ten years, as designated by the Holder at the time of purchase, subject to the Company’s acceptance thereof.

 

(c)  Interest and Interest Payments.  Each Security shall bear interest from and commencing on its Issue Date at such rate of interest as the Company shall determine from time to time, which rate may vary from Holder to Holder depending upon the principal amount of Securities held by such Holder, as set forth in the Prospectus; provided, however, that the interest rate of each Security will be fixed for the term of such Security upon issuance, subject to change only upon the renewal of the Security at maturity.  Interest on the Securities will compound daily based on a calendar year consisting of 365 days and the Holder thereof may elect to have interest paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually, or upon maturity, which payments shall be made on the Payment Date, except that a Holder who elects monthly payments may select the day of the month on which to receive interest payments; provided that no interest shall be paid to a Holder until the expiration of the Holder’s rescission right under Section 2.2(b) and, if the monthly interest payment date selected by the Holder is within five Business Days of the Issue Date of the Security, the first interest payment will be made in the following month and will include all of the interest earned since the Issue Date.  If the Holder does not elect an interest payment option, interest will be paid on the Maturity Date of the Note.  A Holder may change this election once during the term of the Security, subject to the Company’s approval, which change shall be effective by the first Business Day following the 45th day after receipt of written notice from the Holder requesting such change.

 

(d)  Repayment Election at Maturity.  The Company will send each Holder of a Security (existing as of the applicable Maturity Record Date) a Notice of Maturity approximately 15 but not less than 10 days prior to the Maturity Date of the Security held by such Holder reminding such Holder of the pending maturity of the Security and reminding the Holder that the automatic renewal provision described in Section 2.1(e) will take effect, unless (i) the Company states in the Notice of Maturity that it will not allow the Holder to renew the Security (in which case the Company shall pay the Holder principal and accrued interest with regard to the Security on the Maturity Date), or (ii) the Holder delivers a Repayment Election to the Company for the payment of all principal and interest due on the Security as of the Maturity Date so that such Repayment Election is received by the Company within 15 days after the Maturity Date.  Such Notice of Maturity shall also state that payment of principal of a Security shall be made upon presentation of a Repayment Election requiring payment of such Security and shall specify the place where such Repayment Election may be presented.  Upon or following the delivery of a Notice of Maturity for a Security, the Holder thereof, in the Holder’s discretion, may deliver to the Company a Repayment Election; provided that such Repayment Election must be delivered to the Company no later than 15 days after the Maturity Date.  If a Holder delivers a Repayment Election requiring repayment on or prior to the 15th day following the Maturity Date, no interest will accrue after the

 

8

 

Maturity Date and the Holder will be sent payment upon the later of the Maturity Date or five days following the date the Company receives such Repayment Election from the Holder; provided that if the Company has previously paid interest to the Holder for periods after the Maturity Date, such interest shall be deducted from such payment.

 

The Notice of Maturity also shall state that the Holder may, and the Holder may, submit a Repayment Election for the repayment of the maturing Security and use all or a portion of the proceeds thereof to purchase a new Security with a different term.  To exercise this option, the Holder shall complete a new Subscription Agreement for the new Security and send it along with the Holder’s Repayment Election to the Company.  The Issue Date of the new Security shall be the Maturity Date of the maturing Security.  Any proceeds from the maturing Security that are not applied to the purchase of the new Security shall be sent to the Holder of such maturing Security.

 

If a Security pays interest only on the Maturity Date, then the Notice of Maturity also shall state that the Holder may, and the Holder may, submit an “interest-only” Repayment Election in which the Holder requires the payment of the accrued interest that such Holder has earned on the maturing Security up to the Maturity Date and allows the principal amount of such maturing Security to renew in the manner provided in subsection (e) below.

 

(e)  Automatic Renewal.  If a Holder of such Security has not delivered a Repayment Election for repayment of the Security on or prior to the 15th day following the Maturity Date, and the Company did not notify the Holder of its intention to repay the Security in the Notice of Maturity, then such maturing Security shall be extended automatically for an additional term equal to the original term, and shall be deemed to be renewed by the Holder and the Company as of the Maturity Date of such maturing Security.  A maturing Security will continue to renew as described herein absent a Redemption Notice or Repurchase Request by the Holder or an indication by the Company that it will repay and not allow the Security to be renewed in the Notice of Maturity.  Interest on the renewed Security shall accrue from the Issue Date thereof, which is the first day of such renewed term (i.e., the Maturity Date of the maturing Security).  Such renewed Security will be deemed to have the identical terms and provisions of the maturing Security, including provisions relating to payment, except that the interest rate payable during the term of the renewed Security shall be the interest rate which is being offered by the Company on other Securities having the same term and to Persons holding the same principal amount of Securities as of the Issue Date of such renewal.  If other Securities having the same term are not then being issued on the Issue Date of such renewal, the interest rate upon renewal will be the rate specified by the Company on or before the Maturity Date of such Security, or the then existing rate of the Security being renewed if no such rate is specified.  If the maturing Security pays interest only on the Maturity Date, then, except as provided in subsection (d) above, all accrued interest thereon shall be added to the principal amount of the renewed Security upon renewal.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in Section 2.1(d) to the contrary, if a Repayment Election is given or is due at a time when the Company has determined that a

 

9

 

post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement was required but not yet effective, the Company will provide notice to the Holder (including a copy of the post-effective amendment to the Prospectus), and the Holder will be entitled to rescind his or her Repayment Election, if made, or to make a Repayment Election, if not previously made, by delivering a written rescission of the earlier Repayment Election, or a Repayment Election, as the case may be, to the Company no later than 10 days following the postmark date on the Company’s notice of such post-effective amendment.

 

(f)  Redemption Notice from Company.  Pursuant to Section 3.1, each Security shall be redeemable by the Company at any time, without penalty, upon the delivery of a Redemption Notice to the Holder of such Security.  Such Redemption Notice shall set forth a date for the redemption of such Security (the “Redemption Date”) that is at least 30 days after the date that such Redemption Notice has been delivered by the Company to the Holder hereunder.

 

(g)  Repurchase Request by Holder.  Pursuant to and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3.2, each Security shall be subject to repurchase at the request of the Holder upon the delivery of a Repurchase Request to the Company.  Subject to the limitations on repurchase and the Repurchase Penalties described in Section 3.2, the payment of interest and principal due upon the repurchase of a Security shall be made to the Holder on a Repurchase Date that is within 10 days of the delivery of such Repurchase Request to the Company or, in the case of a repurchase of a Security in connection with the death or Total Permanent Disability of a Holder, a Repurchase Date that is within 10 days after the Company’s receipt of satisfactory establishment or such Holder’s death or Total Permanent Disability.

 

(h)  Terms of Securities.  The terms and provisions contained in the Securities shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, and the Holders by accepting the Securities, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound hereby and thereby.  In case of a conflict, the provisions of this Indenture shall control.

 

Section 2.2                                   Written Confirmation; Rejection; Rescission.

 

(a)  Except with respect to an automatically renewed Security pursuant to Section 2.1(e), a Security shall not be validly issued to a Person until the following have occurred:  (i) such Person has remitted good and available funds for the full principal amount of such Security to the Company or a duly authorized Agent of the Company; (ii) a Written Confirmation of the acceptance of the subscription is sent by the Company or a duly authorized Agent of the Company to such Person; and (iii) an Account is established by the Registrar in the name of such Person as the Holder of such Security pursuant to Section 2.13 hereof.  The Company or a duly authorized Agent of the Company, in their sole discretion, may reject any subscription from a Person for the purchase of Securities, in which event any funds received from such Person pursuant to such subscription shall be promptly returned to such Person.  No interest shall be paid on any funds returned on a rejected subscription.

 

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(b)  For a period of five Business Days following the mailing by the Company of (i) a Written Confirmation that evidences the valid issuance of a Security at the time of original purchase (but not upon transfer or automatic renewal of a Security), or (ii) notice from the Company that a Holder’s purchase of a Security occurred at a time when a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement was required but not yet effective (which notice shall be accompanied by a copy of the post-effective amendment to the Prospectus), such Holder shall have the right to rescind the Security and receive repayment of the principal by presenting a written request for such rescission to the Company.  Such written request for rescission (A) if personally delivered or delivered via facsimile or electronic transmission, must be received by the Company on or prior to the 5th Business Day following the mailing of such Written Confirmation or post-effective amendment notice by the Company or (B) if mailed must be postmarked on or before the 5th Business Day following the mailing by the Company of such Written Confirmation or post-effective amendment notice.  Repayment of the principal shall be made within 10 days of the Company’s receipt of such request from the Holder. No interest shall be paid on any such rescinded Security.

 

Section 2.3                                   Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

(a)  The Company shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and (ii) an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”).  The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange, which shall include the name, address for notices and Payment Account of the Holder and the payment election information, principal amount, term and interest rate for each Security (the “Securities Register”).  The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.  The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder; provided that the Company shall promptly notify the Holders and the Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture.  The Company may act as Paying Agent and/or Registrar.  In the event the Company uses any Agent other than the Company or the Trustee, the Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with such Agent, which agreement shall incorporate the provisions of the TIA or provide that the duties performed thereunder are subject to and governed by the provisions of this Indenture.  The agreement shall implement or be subject to the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such Agent.  If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such, and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation in accordance with Section 7.7 hereof.  In no event shall the Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any predecessor Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

(b)  Pursuant to Section 2.15, the Company hereby appoints the Servicing Agent as the initial Registrar and as agent for service of notices and demands in connection with the Securities.  The Servicing Agent shall act as Registrar and agent for service of notices and demands in connection with the Securities until such time as the Company gives the

 

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Trustee written notice to the contrary.  Also pursuant to Section 2.15, the Company hereby appoints                                                       as the initial Paying Agent.

 

Section 2.4            Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

Prior to each Payment Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent sufficient funds to pay principal and interest then so becoming due and payable in cash. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal or interest on the Securities, and will notify the Trustee promptly in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee shall require a Paying Agent (if other than the Company) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company) shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.  If the Company acts as Paying Agent, then the Company shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing at least five days before the Payment Date of the name and address of the Paying Agent if a person other than the Trustee is named Paying Agent at any time or from time to time.

 

Section 2.5            List of Holders.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Registrar shall furnish to the Trustee within 10 days after the end of each fiscal quarter during the term of this Indenture and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a copy of the current Securities Register as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).

 

Section 2.6            Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a)   The Securities are not negotiable instruments and cannot be transferred without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).  Requests to the Registrar for the transfer of any Security shall be:

 

(i)            made to the Registrar in writing on a form supplied by the Registrar;

 

(ii)           duly executed by the Holder of the Security, as reflected on the Registrar’s records as of the date of receipt of such transfer request, or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing;

 

(iii)          accompanied by the written consent of the Company to the transfer (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld); and

 

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(iv)          if requested by the Company or the Registrar, an opinion of Holder’s counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the requesting party) that the transfer does not violate any applicable securities laws and/or a signature guarantee.

 

(b)   Upon transfer of a Security, the Company, or the Registrar on behalf of the Company, will provide the new registered owner of the Security with a Written Confirmation that will evidence the transfer of the Security in the Securities Register and will establish a corresponding Account.

 

(c)   The Company or the Registrar may assess reasonable service charges to a Holder for any registration or transfer or exchange, and the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange pursuant to Section 9.5 hereof).

 

(d)   With respect to the relevant Regular Record Date, the Company shall treat the individual or entity listed on each Account maintained by the Registrar as the absolute owner of the Security represented thereby for purposes of receiving payments thereon and for all other purposes whatsoever.

 

Section 2.7                                   Payment of Principal and Interest; Principal and Interest Rights Preserved.

 

(a)   Each Security shall accrue interest at the rate specified for such Security in the Securities Register and such interest shall be payable on each Payment Date following the Issue Date for such Security, until the principal thereof becomes due and payable.  Any installment of interest payable on a Security that is caused to be punctually paid or duly provided for by the Company on the applicable Payment Date shall be paid to the Holder in whose name such Security is registered in the Securities Register on the applicable Regular Record Date with respect to the Securities outstanding, by electronic deposit to such Holder’s Payment Account as it appears in the Securities Register on such Regular Record Date.  The payment of any interest payable in connection with the payment of any principal payable with respect to such Security on a Maturity Date shall be payable as provided below.  In the event any payments made by electronic deposit are not accepted into the Holder’s Payment Account for any reason, such funds shall be held in accordance with Sections 2.4 and 8.3 hereof.  Any installment of interest not punctually paid or duly provided for shall be payable in the manner and to the Holders as specified in Section 2.10 hereof.

 

(b)   Each of the Securities shall have stated maturities of principal as shall be indicated on such Securities or in the Written Confirmation and as set forth in the Securities Register.  The principal of each Security shall be paid in full as of the Maturity Date thereof pursuant to Section 2.1(d), unless the term of such Security is renewed pursuant to Section 2.1(e) hereof or such Security becomes due and payable at an earlier date by acceleration, redemption, repurchase or otherwise.  Interest on each Security shall be due and payable on each Payment Date at the interest rate applicable to such Security for the Interest Accrual Period related to such Security and such Payment Date.

 

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Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions with respect to payments of principal of and interest on the Securities, if the Securities have become or been declared due and payable following an Event of Default, then payments of principal of and interest on the Securities shall be made in accordance with Article VI hereof.  If definitive, certificated securities are issued, then the principal payment made on any Security on any Maturity Date (or the Redemption Price or the Repurchase Price of any Security required to be redeemed or repurchased, respectively), and any accrued interest thereon, shall be payable on or after the Maturity Date, Redemption Date or the Repurchase Date therefore at the office or agency of the Company maintained by it for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof or at the office of any Paying Agent for such Security.

 

(c)   All computations of interest due with respect to any Security shall be made, unless otherwise specified in the Security, based upon a 365-day year.

 

Section 2.8                                   Outstanding Securities.

 

(a)   The Securities outstanding at any time are the outstanding principal balances of all Accounts representing the Securities maintained by the Company or such other entity as the Company designated as Registrar.

 

(b)   If the principal amount of any Security is considered paid under Section 4.1 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

(c)   Subject to Section 2.9 hereof, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

 

Section 2.9                                   Treasury Securities.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

Section 2.10                            Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on any Security, it shall pay the defaulted interest plus, to the extent lawful, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Holder of such Security on a subsequent special Payment Date, which date shall be at the earliest practicable date, but in all events within 15 days following the scheduled Payment Date of the defaulted interest, in each case at the rate provided in the Security. The Regular Record Date for the scheduled Payment Date shall be the record date for the special Payment Date. Prior to any such special Payment Date, the Company (or the Trustee, in the name of and at the expense of the Company) shall mail to Holder(s) a notice that states the special Payment Date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

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Section 2.11                            Temporary Notes.

 

If Securities are issued in certificated form in the limited circumstances contemplated under Section 2.13(b), pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company may execute, and direct that the Trustee authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities, in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

If temporary Securities are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities at any office or agency of the Registrar without charge to the Holder.

 

Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities.

 

Section 2.12                            Execution, Authentication And Delivery.

 

(a)   Subject to subsection (b) below, the Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by an Officer and attested by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.  Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper Officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

At the time of and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company will deliver definitive or certificated forms of Securities, if any, executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a direction from the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.  The Trustee in accordance with such direction from the Company shall authenticate and deliver such Securities as in this Indenture provided and not otherwise.  Securities issued hereunder shall be dated as of their Issue Date.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security an authentication executed by or on behalf of the Trustee by manual signature, and such authentication upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

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(b)   Notwithstanding the preceding subsection (a) of this Section, in connection with the issuance of each Security in book-entry form pursuant to Section 2.13, each Security shall be deemed to be executed and attested to by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, in the same manner as provided in the preceding subsection (a), upon the delivery by the Company (or the Company’s duly authorized Agent) to the Holder of such Security of a Written Confirmation, with a copy of such Written Confirmation delivered to the Trustee, and the establishment by the Registrar of an Account for such Security in the name of the Holder pursuant to Section 2.13 hereof.

 

Section 2.13                            Book-Entry Registration.

 

(a)   The Registrar shall maintain a book-entry registration and transfer system through the establishment and maintenance of Accounts for the benefit of Holders of Securities as the sole method of recording the ownership and transfer of ownership interests in such Securities. The registered owners of the Accounts established by the Registrar in connection with the purchase or transfer of the Securities shall be deemed to be the Holders of the Securities outstanding for all purposes under this Indenture.  The Company (or its duly authorized Agent) shall promptly notify the Registrar of the acceptance of a subscriber’s order to purchase a Security by providing a copy of the accepted Subscription Agreement and the related Written Confirmation, and upon receipt of such notices, the Registrar shall establish an Account for such Security by recording a credit to its book-entry registration and transfer system to the Account of the related Holder of such Security for the principal amount of such Security owned by such Holder and issue a Written Confirmation to the Holder, with a copy being delivered to the Trustee, on behalf of the Company.  The Registrar shall make appropriate credit and debit entries within each Account to record all of the applicable actions under this Indenture that relate to the ownership of the related Security and issue Written Confirmations to the related Holders as set forth herein, with copies being delivered to the Trustee, on behalf of the Company.  For example, the total amount of any principal and/or interest due and payable to the Holders of the Accounts maintained by the Registrar as provided in this Indenture shall be credited to such Accounts by the Registrar within the time frames provided in this Indenture, and the amount of any payments of principal and/or interest distributed to the Holders of the Accounts as provided in this Indenture shall be debited to such Accounts by the Registrar.  The Trustee may review the book-entry registration and transfer system as it deems necessary to ensure the Registrar’s compliance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

(b)   Book-entry Accounts evidencing ownership of the Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive or certificated forms of Securities in denominations of $1,000 and any amount in excess thereof and fully registered in the names as each Holder directs only if (i) the Company at its option advises the Trustee and the Registrar in writing of its election to terminate the book-entry system, or (ii) after the occurrence of any Event of Default, Holders of a majority of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Securities (as determined based upon the latest quarterly statement provided to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.5 hereof) advise the Trustee in writing that the continuation of the book-entry system is no longer in the best interests of such Holders and the Trustee

 

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notifies all Holders of the Securities, of such event and the availability of certificated forms of securities to the Holders of Securities.

 

Section 2.14                            Initial and Periodic Statements.

 

(a)   Subject to the rejection of a Subscription Agreement pursuant to Section 2.2(a), the Registrar shall send Written Confirmations to initial purchasers, registered owners, registered pledgees, former registered owners and former pledgees, within two Business Days of its receipt of proper notice regarding the purchase, transfer or pledge of a Security, with copies of such Written Confirmations being delivered to the Trustee, on behalf of the Company.

 

(b)   The Registrar shall send each Holder of a Security (and each registered pledgee) via U.S. mail not later than 10 Business Days after each quarter end in which such Holder had an outstanding balance in such Holder’s Account, a statement which indicates as of the quarter end preceding the mailing: (i) the balance of such Account; (ii) interest credited for the period; (iii) repayments, redemptions or repurchases, if any, during the period; and (iv) the interest rates paid on the Securities in such Account during the period.  The Registrar may also notify the Holders of any notations made to the Securities pursuant to Section 9.5.  The Registrar shall provide additional statements as the Holders or registered pledgees of the Securities may reasonably request from time to time. The Registrar may charge such Holders or pledgees requesting such statements a fee to cover the charges incurred by the Registrar in providing such additional statements.

 

Section 2.15                            Appointment of Agents.

 

The Company may from time to time engage Agents to perform its obligations and exercise its rights and discretion under the terms of this Indenture.  In each such case, the Company will provide the Trustee with a copy of each agreement under which any such Agent is engaged and the name, address, telephone number and capacity of the Agent appointed.  If any such Agent shall resign, or such Agent’s engagement is terminated by the Company, subsequent to the Agent’s appointment by the Company under this Section 2.15, the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of such resignation or termination, along with the name, address, telephone number and capacity of any successor Agent.  Notwithstanding any engagement of an Agent hereunder, the Company shall remain obligated to fulfill each of its obligations under this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE III
 REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE

 

Section 3.1                                   Redemption of Securities at the Company’s Election.

 

(a)   The Company may redeem, in whole or in part, any Security prior to the scheduled Maturity Date of the Security by providing pursuant to Section 2.1(f) a Redemption Notice to the Holder thereof listed on the records maintained by the Registrar, which notice shall include the Redemption Date and the Redemption Price to be paid to the Holder on the Redemption Date. No interest shall accrue on a Security to 

 

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be redeemed under this Section 3.1 for any period of time after the Redemption Date for such Security, provided that the Company or the Paying Agent has timely tendered the Redemption Price to the Holder.

 

(b)   The Company shall have no mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations with respect to any of the Securities.

 

(c)   In its sole discretion, the Company may offer certain Holders the ability to extend the maturity of an existing Security through the redemption of such Security and the issuance of a new Security. This redemption option shall not be subject to the 30 day notice of redemption described in Section 2.1(f).

 

Section 3.2                                   Repurchase of Securities at the Holder’s Request.

 

(a)   Repurchase Upon Death or Disability.  Subject to subsection (c) below, within 45 days of the death or Total Permanent Disability of a Holder who is a natural person (including Securities held in an individual retirement account), the estate of such Holder (in the event of death) or such Holder (in the event of Total Permanent Disability) may request that the Company repurchase, in whole and not in part, without penalty, the Security held by such Holder, by delivering to the Company a Repurchase Request.  If a Security is held jointly by natural persons who are legally married, then a Repurchase Request may be made when either registered Holder of such Security dies or becomes subject to a Total Permanent Disability, the surviving Holder or the disabled Holder may request that the Company repurchase in whole and not in part, without penalty, such Security as jointly held by the Holders by delivering to the Company a Repurchase Request.  In the event a Security is held jointly by two or more natural persons that are not legally married, neither of these persons shall have the right to request that the Company repurchase such Security unless all joint holders of such Security have either died or suffered a Total Permanent Disability.  If the Security is held by a Holder who is not a natural person, such as a trust, partnership, corporation or other similar entity, the right to request repurchase upon death or disability does not apply.

 

(b)   Repurchase Upon Holder’s Election.  Subject to subsection (c) below, a Holder may request the Company to repurchase, in whole and not in part, the Security held by such Holder by delivering a Repurchase Request to the Company.  Any such requested repurchase shall be made only at the Company’s discretion and, if made, will be subject to an early Repurchase Penalty to be deducted from the payment of such Holder’s Repurchase Price on the Repurchase Date.  The early repurchase penalty (the “Repurchase Penalty”) shall equal the following:  (i) with respect to a Security with a three month maturity, the interest accrued on a simple interest basis on such Security from the Issue Date to the Repurchase Date at the existing interest rate thereof, but not to exceed three months of simple interest on such Security, or (ii) with respect to a Security with a maturity of six months or longer, the interest accrued on a simple interest basis on such Security from the Issue Date to the Repurchase Date at the existing interest rate thereof, but not to exceed six months of simple interest on such Security.

 

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(c)   Limitation on Repurchases.  The Company will only be required to repurchase Securities for which Repurchase Requests have been received pursuant to paragraph (a) above, and, if accepted by the Company, paragraph (b) above, to the extent that the aggregate Repurchase Price for all Securities for which Repurchase Requests are then outstanding in any calendar quarter would not exceed the greater of (i) one percent of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all Securities as of the last day of the previous calendar quarter or (ii) $500,000.  For the purposes of applying such limits on the aggregate Repurchase Price for outstanding Repurchase Requests, such outstanding Repurchase Requests will be honored in the order of the date received or, in the case of Repurchase Requests made in connection with a Holder’s death or Total Permanent Disability, the later of the date received or the date such death or Total Permanent Disability is established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, and to the extent any Repurchase Request is not paid in the quarter received or so established due to such limitations, it will be honored in the subsequent quarter, to the extent possible, subject to the applicability of such limits on aggregate Repurchase Requests in each subsequent quarter.  For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that the Company would otherwise be required to repurchase a Security hereunder in a given quarter by reason of the priority of the Repurchase Request (as established in this Section) but for the fact that the Repurchase Price exceeds the amount remaining under the forgoing limitations (after giving effect to all other Repurchase Requests having priority during such quarter), the Company may, at its option, effect a partial repurchase of such Security, up to the portion of the Repurchase Price covered by the amount remaining, and carry the Repurchase Request for the balance of such Security forward as provided above.

 

(d)   Repurchase Date.  To the extent a Security for which a Repurchase Request has been received during the then current calendar quarter is determined not to be subject to the limitation in subsection (c) above and thus, will be repurchased during the current quarter, then the Company shall designate a date for the repurchase of such Security (the “Repurchase Date”), which date shall not be more than 10 days after the Company’s receipt of the Repurchase Request or, in the case of a Repurchase Request following the death or Total Permanent Disability of the Holder, 10 days after the Company’s receipt of satisfactory establishment of such Holder’s death or Total Permanent Disability.  On the Repurchase Date, the Company shall pay the Repurchase Price to the Holder (or the estate of the Holder, in the case of a request following death) in accordance with Section 2.7.  With respect to a Security for which a Repurchase Request has been received during a prior calendar quarter and for which the Repurchase Price was not paid during such prior calendar quarter, but rather the Repurchase Request has been carried over to and is still outstanding in the current calendar quarter (because of the limitation in subsection (c) above), the Company shall designate a Repurchase Date not later than the tenth (10th) day after the start of such calendar quarter, unless subsection (c) is again applicable, in which case such obligation shall be met not later than the tenth (10th) day after the start of the next calendar quarter during which such limitation is no longer applicable.  No interest shall accrue on a Security to be repurchased under this Section 3.2 for any period of time on or after the Repurchase Date for such Security, provided that the Company or the Paying Agent has timely tendered the Repurchase Price to the Holder or the estate of the Holder, as the case may be.

 

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(e)   Waiver and Modification of Repurchase Policies.  The Company may waive or reduce any early Repurchase Penalty in its sole discretion and may modify at any time its policy on the repurchase of Securities at the request of Holders; provided that no such modification shall adversely affect the rights of Holders to the repurchase of Securities for which Repurchase Requests are then outstanding.

 

ARTICLE IV
 COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1                                   Payment of Securities.

 

(a)   Subject to Article X, the Company shall duly pay the principal of and interest on each Security on the dates and in the manner provided under this Indenture.  Principal and interest (to the extent such interest is paid in cash) shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company, holds, at least one Business Day before that date, money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due; provided, however, that principal and interest shall not be considered paid within the meaning of this Section 4.1 if money is held by the Paying Agent for the benefit of holders of Senior Debt pursuant to the provisions of Article X hereof. Such Paying Agent shall return to the Company, no later than five days following the date of payment, any money (including accrued interest, if any) that exceeds such amount of principal and interest paid on the Securities in accordance with this Section 4.1.

 

(b)   Subject to Article X, to the extent lawful, the Company shall pay interest (including Post-Petition Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Securities, compounded semi-annually; it shall pay interest (including Post-Petition Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate, compounded semi-annually.

 

Section 4.2                                   Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

(a)   The Company will maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

(b)   The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give 

 

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prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

(c)   The Company hereby designates its office at 16233 Kenyon Ave., Suite 210, Lakeville, Minnesota 55044, as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.3.

 

Section 4.3                                   SEC Reports and Other Reports.

 

(a)   The Company shall provide to the Trustee, within 45 days after filing with the SEC, paper copies or, if such documents are readily available on the SEC’s website, notification of the availability of, the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  The Company shall otherwise comply with the periodic reporting requirements as set forth in TIA § 314(a), and the Company shall file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Trustee shall have no duty to review such documents for purposes of determining compliance with any provisions of the Indenture.

 

(b)   The Company, or such other entity as the Company shall designate as Registrar, shall provide the Trustee at intervals of not more than six months with management reports which provide the Trustee with such information regarding the Accounts maintained by the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities as the Trustee may reasonably request which information shall include at least the following for the relevant time interval from the date of the immediately preceding report: (i) the outstanding balance of each Account at the end of the period; (ii) interest credited for the period; (iii) repayments, repurchases and redemptions, if any, made during the period; and (iv) the interest rate paid on each Security in such Account maintained by the Registrar during the period.

 

(c)   Notwithstanding any provision of this Indenture to the contrary, the Company shall not have any obligation to maintain any of its securities (other than the Securities hereunder), including without limitation its common stock, as securities registered under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as amended, or as securities listed and publicly traded on any national securities exchange.

 

Section 4.4                                   Compliance Certificate.

 

(a)   The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, beginning in 2012, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has

 

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kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of their knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of their knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities are prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

(b)         So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.3 above shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Company’s independent public accountants that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that the Company has violated the provisions of Section 4.1 of this Indenture or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.

 

(c)          The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.5                                   Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all beneficial advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

Section 4.6                                   Liquidation.

 

The Board of Governors or the members of the Company shall not adopt a plan of liquidation that provides for, contemplates or the effectuation of which is preceded by (a) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, otherwise than substantially as an entirety (Section 5.1 of this Indenture being the Section hereof which governs any such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition substantially as an entirety), and (b) the distribution of all or substantially all of the proceeds of such sale, 

 

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lease, conveyance or other disposition and of the remaining assets of the Company to the holders of capital stock of the Company, unless the Company, prior to making any liquidating distribution pursuant to such plan, makes provision for the satisfaction of the Company’s Obligations hereunder and under the Securities as to the payment of principal and interest.

 

Section 4.7                                   Intentionally Omitted.

 

Section 4.8                                   Restrictive Covenants.

 

(a)          The Company covenants that, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, it shall not declare or pay any distributions or other payments of cash or other property to its common or preferred members (other than any distribution payable in units of or rights to acquire units of membership interest in the Company’s on a pro rata basis to all members), unless no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities then exists or would exist immediately following the declaration or payment of such distribution or other payment.

 

(b)         The Company’s Board of Governors shall not declare or pay any distributions to its members if, in the reasonable determination of the Governors, the Company would have insufficient cash to meet anticipated redemption or repayment obligations.  The foregoing restriction shall not apply to distributions in respect of taxes payable by the members based on net income or gains of the Company that have been allocated to the members.

 

Section 4.9                                   Securitization Transactions and Additional Indebtedness.

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.8(b), the Company shall not be prohibited, restricted or otherwise limited from incurring or refinancing any Indebtedness subsequent to the date hereof, which Indebtedness will have such terms and provisions as the Company and the lender thereof may agree upon without any restriction or limitation hereunder and such Indebtedness will likely be senior in right of payment to the Securities.

 

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.1                                   When the Company May Merge, etc.

 

(a)          The Company may not consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving entity), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to another entity, Person or entity unless (i) the Company is the surviving entity or the entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) the entity or Person formed by or 

 

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surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the entity or Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company pursuant to a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under the Securities and this Indenture; and (iii) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists.

 

(b)         The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture. The Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

 

Section 5.2                                   Successor Entity Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor entity or Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company, is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor entity or Person has been named as the Company herein, and upon such succession and substitution, the Company shall be released from all of its obligations and liabilities under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.1                                   Events of Default.

 

An “Event of Default” occurs if:

 

(a)          the Company fails to pay interest on a Security when the same becomes due and payable and such failure continues for a period of 15 days, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article X hereof;

 

(b)         the Company fails to pay the principal amount of any Security when the same becomes due and payable on any Payment Date, and such failure continues for a period of 10 days, whether or not prohibited by the provisions of Article X hereof;

 

(c)          the Company fails to observe or perform any material covenant, condition or agreement on the part of the Company under this Indenture or the breach by the Company of any material representation or warranty of the Company under this Indenture, and such failure or breach continues unremedied for a period of 30 days after the Company’s receipt of written notice of such failure or breach;

 

(d)         the Company defaults in any other material financial obligation of the Company and such default continues unremedied for a period of 30 days after the Company’s receipt of written notice of such default;

 

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(e)          the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case; (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case; (iii) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property; (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (v) admits in writing its inability to pay debts as the same become due; or

 

(f)            a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case; (ii) appoints a custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property; (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and in each case the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 120 consecutive days.

 

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

A Default under clause (c) of this Section 6.1 (except for a Default with respect to Section 4.6 or 5.1) is not an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities notify the Company in writing of the Default and the Company does not cure the Default or such Default is not waived within 30 days after receipt of the notice pursuant to Section 6.4.  The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.”

 

Section 6.2                                   Acceleration.

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clauses (e) or (f) of Section 6.1) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities by written notice to the Company and the Trustee may declare the unpaid principal of and any accrued interest on all the Securities to be due and payable. Upon such declaration, all unpaid principal of and accrued interest on all Securities shall be due and payable immediately; provided, however, that if any Indebtedness or Obligation is outstanding pursuant to, or with respect to, the Senior Debt, such a declaration of acceleration by the Holders shall not become effective until the earlier of (i) the day which is five Business Days after the receipt by each of the Company and the holders of Senior Debt of such written notice of acceleration or (ii) the date of acceleration of any Indebtedness under any Senior Debt; and provided, further, that, so long as any Senior Debt is outstanding, any such declaration by the Trustee or the Holders shall not become effective if any period during which the Company is not permitted to make payment on account of the Securities pursuant to Section 10.3 is then in effect.  If an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 6.1 occurs, all unpaid principal of and accrued interest on all Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

 

Section 6.3                                   Other Remedies.

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may, after a declaration of acceleration under Section 6.2 above, pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of

 

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principal or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.  The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

Section 6.4                                   Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities, waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture, including without limitation a rescission of an acceleration pursuant to Section 6.2, except for a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest on or the principal of any Security held by a non-consenting Holder, or except for a waiver that would conflict with any judgment or decree.  Upon actual receipt of any such notice of waiver by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.5                                   Control by Majority.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may 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 it, provided, that indemnification for the Trustee’s fees and expenses, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, shall have been provided. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders, or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

Section 6.6                                   Limitation on Suits.

 

A Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture only if:

 

(a)          the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

 

(b)         the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(c)          such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(d)         the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

 

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(e)          during such 60 day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

 

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.

 

Section 6.7                                   Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, but subject to Article X hereof, the right of any Holder of a Security to receive payment of principal and interest on the Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.

 

Section 6.8                                   Collection Suit by Trustee.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal and interest remaining unpaid on the Securities and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

Section 6.9                                   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

The Trustee is authorized 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 the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties which the Holders of the Securities may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder

 

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thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.10                            Priorities.

 

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall, subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, pay out the money in the following order:

 

(a)          First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.7, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, if any, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

(b)         Second: to holders of Senior Debt to the extent required by Article X hereof;

 

(c)          Third: to (i) Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities for principal and interest, and (ii) holders of Pari Passu Debt for amounts due and unpaid on such Pari Passu Debt for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities and/or such Pari Passu Debt for principal and interest, respectively; and

 

(d)         Fourth: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders.

 

Section 6.11                            Undertaking for Costs.

 

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 a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.7, or a suit by Holders of more than ten percent (10%) in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities.

 

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.1                                   Duties of Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)                                  In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon resolutions, statements, reports, documents, orders, certificates, opinions or other instruments furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any of the above that are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall examine them to determine whether they substantially conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

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

 

(i)                                     This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b)(i) and (b)(ii) of this Section.

 

(ii)                                  The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proven that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

 

(iii)                               The Trustee shall not be liable to the Holders with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.5.

 

(d)         Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

 

(e)          No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

(f)            The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it, except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company or, except with respect to any money held by the Trustee over a holiday or weekend, in which event the Trustee shall remit to the Company the interest earnings on such money at a rate equal to the then current rate for money market funds invested by the Trustee; provided that the Company has directed the Trustee to invest such money.  Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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Section 7.2                                   Rights of Trustee.

 

(a)          The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented to it by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company’s covenants in Article IV hereof. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or any Event of Default except any Default or Event of Default of which the Trustee shall have received written notification or obtained actual knowledge.

 

Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Sections 4.3(a), 4.3(b) and 4.4(b) is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

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

 

(c)          The Trustee may act through agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence or the supervision of any agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees appointed by it with due care.

 

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

 

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

 

(f)            The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of an Event of Default for any purpose under this Indenture unless notified of such Event of Default by the Company, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company) or a Holder of the Securities.

 

(g)         The Trustee shall not be responsible for any costs, expenses, damages or other liabilities arising (directly or indirectly) as a result of (i) any filing of a claim or proof of debt by holders of Senior Debt (or their representative, successors or assigns) or (ii) any right of holders of Senior Debt (or their representative, successors or assigns) to file any such claim or proof of debt, in any such case in accordance with the second paragraph of Section 10.2.

 

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Section 7.3                                   Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

 

Section 7.4                                   Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

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

 

Section 7.5                                   Notice of Defaults.

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a notice of the Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or as soon as practicable after it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee.  Except in the case of an Event of Default in payment on any Security, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.

 

Section 7.6                                   Reports by Trustee to Holders.

 

(a)          Within 60 days of the end of each Fiscal Year, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 and for so long as the Securities remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to Holders (with a copy to the Company) a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the 12 months preceding the reporting date, no report need be prepared or transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).

 

(b)         Commencing at the time this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, a copy of each report mailed to Holders under this Section 7.6 (at the time of its mailing to Holders) shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange, if any, on which the Securities are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee if and when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 7.7                                   Compensation and Indemnity.

 

(a)          The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation, as the parties shall agree to in writing from time to time, for its acceptance of this Indenture and its performance of the duties and services required hereunder. The

 

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Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

(b)         The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, except as set forth in Section 7.7(d).  The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent the Company is prejudiced thereby.  The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall reasonably cooperate in such defense.  The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of one such counsel.  The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(c)          The obligations of the Company to pay compensation under Section 7.7(a) through the date of termination, and for indemnification under Section 7.7(b) shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

(d)         The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

 

(e)          To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on the Securities or to pay Senior Debt.  Such lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

(f)            When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

Section 7.8                                   Replacement of Trustee.

 

(a)          A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.8.

 

(b)         The Trustee may resign at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company.  The Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities may remove the Trustee (including any successor Trustee) at any time by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)                               a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property;

 

(iv)                              the Trustee becomes incapable of acting as Trustee under this Indenture, or

 

(v)                                 the Company so elects, provided such replacement Trustee is qualified.

 

(c)          If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

 

(d)         If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after notice that the Trustee has resigned or has been removed, the Company or the Trustee or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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

 

(f)            A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to all Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations to pay compensation under Section 7.7(a) through the date of termination, and for indemnification under Section 7.7(b) hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

Section 7.9                                   Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

 

Section 7.10                            Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

(a)          There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to

 

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exercise corporate trustee power, shall be subject to supervision or examination by Federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

(b)         This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1) and (2). The Trustee shall be subject to TIA § 310(b).

 

Section 7.11                            Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

The Trustee shall be subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

ARTICLE VIII
 DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

Section 8.1                                   Termination of Company’s Obligations.

 

(a)          This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except that the Company’s obligations to pay compensation under Section 7.7(a) through the date of termination, and for indemnification under Section 7.7(b) and its obligations under Section 8.4, and the Company’s, Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations under Section 8.3 shall survive) when, without violating Article X hereof, all outstanding Securities have been paid in full and the Company has paid all sums payable by the Company hereunder.  In addition, the Company may terminate all of its obligations under this Indenture if, without violating Article X hereof:

 

(i)                                     the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee or, at the option of the Trustee, with a trustee reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, money or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient (as certified by an independent public accountant designated by the Company) to pay principal and interest on the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and to pay all other sums payable by it hereunder, provided that (A) the trustee of the irrevocable trust shall have been irrevocably instructed to pay such money or the proceeds of such U.S. Government Obligations to the Trustee and (B) the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such U.S. Government Obligations to the payment of said principal and interest with respect to the Securities;

 

(ii)                                  the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with; and

 

(iii)                               no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit.

 

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Then, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as provided in this paragraph), and the Trustee, on demand of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging confirmation of and discharge under this Indenture. The Company may make the deposit only if Article X hereof does not prohibit such payment. However, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 4.2, 7.7(c), 7.8, 8.3 and 8.4 and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.3 shall survive until the Securities are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the Company’s obligations to pay compensation under Section 7.7(a) through the date of termination, and for indemnification under Section 7.7(b), its obligations under Section 8.4 and the Company’s, Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.3 shall survive.

 

(b)         After such irrevocable deposit made pursuant to this Section 8.1 and satisfaction of the other conditions set forth herein, the Trustee upon written request shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture except for those surviving obligations specified above.

 

(c)          In order to have money available on a payment date to pay principal or interest on the Securities, the U.S. Government Obligations shall be payable as to principal or interest at least one Business Day before such payment date in such amounts as will provide the necessary money. U.S. Government Obligations shall not be callable at the issuer’s option.

 

Section 8.2                                   Application of Trust Money.

 

The Trustee or a trustee satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8. 1. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal and interest on the Securities.

 

Section 8.3                                   Repayment to Company.

 

(a)          The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon written request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

 

(b)         The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest on the Securities that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due; provided, however, that the Company shall have either caused notice of such payment to be mailed to each Holder entitled thereto no less than 30 days prior to such repayment or within such period shall have published such notice in a newspaper of widespread circulation published in Dakota County, Minnesota.  After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.

 

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Section 8.4                                   Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.2 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.2; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment, as long as no money is owed to the Trustee by the Company, from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE IX
 AMENDMENTS

 

Section 9.1                                   Without Consent of the Holders.

 

The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without the consent of any Holder:

 

(a)          to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(b)         to comply with Section 5.1;

 

(c)          to make any change that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder;

 

(d)         make any change in Section 3.2; provided, however, that no such change shall adversely affect the rights of any outstanding or issued Security; or

 

(e)          to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.

 

Section 9.2                                   With Consent of the Holders.

 

(a)          The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities. The Holders of a majority in principal of the then outstanding Securities may also waive on behalf of all Holders any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities. However, without the consent of the Holder of each Security affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section may not:

 

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(i)                                     reduce the aggregate principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(ii)                                  reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any outstanding Security;

 

(iii)                               reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Security or alter the redemption provisions or the price at which the Company shall offer to purchase such Security pursuant to Section 3.1 of Article III hereof;

 

(iv)                              make any Security payable in money other than that stated in the Prospectus;

 

(v)                                 modify or eliminate the right of the estate of a Holder or a Holder to cause the Company to repurchase a Security upon the death or Total Permanent Disability of a Holder pursuant to Article III; provided, however, that the Company may not modify or eliminate such right, as it may be in effect on the Issue Date, of any Security which was issued with such right, and after an amendment under this subsection 9.2(a)(v) becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of each Security then outstanding a notice briefly describing the amendment;

 

(vi)                              make any change in Section 6.4 or 6.7 hereof or in this sentence of this Section 9.2;

 

(vii)                           make any change in Article X that materially adversely affects the rights of any Holders; or

 

(viii)                        waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or interest on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration).

 

(b)         It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

(c)          After an amendment or waiver under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of each Security affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.7 hereof, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities.

 

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Section 9.3                                   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

If at the time this Indenture shall be qualified under the TIA, every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

Section 9.4                                   Effect of Consents.

 

(a)          Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. An amendment or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

 

(b)         The Company may fix a record date for determining which Holders must consent to such amendment or waivers. If the Company fixes a record date, the record date shall be fixed at (i) the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.5, or (ii) such other date as the Company shall designate.

 

Section 9.5                                   Notation on or Exchange of Securities.

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security, if certificated, or any Account statement.  Failure to make any notation or issue a new Security shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment or waiver.

 

Section 9.6                                   Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

 

The Trustee shall sign any amendment or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article IX if, in the Trustee’s reasonable discretion, the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may, but need not, sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, if requested, an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and to receive and, subject to Section 7.1, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (or written advice of counsel) as conclusive evidence that such amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, that it is not inconsistent herewith, and that it will be valid and binding upon the Company in accordance with its terms. The Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental indenture until its Board of Governors approves it.

 

ARTICLE X
 SUBORDINATION

 

Section 10.1                            Agreement to Subordinate.

 

(a)          The Company agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Security consents and agrees, that the Indebtedness evidenced by the Securities and the payment of the principal

 

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of, and interest on and other amounts owing with respect to, the Securities is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article, to the prior payment in full, in cash, cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt, of all Obligations due in respect of Senior Debt of the Company whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter incurred, and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt.

 

(b)         For purposes of this Article X, a payment or distribution on account of the Securities may consist of cash, property or securities, by set-off or otherwise, and a payment or distribution on account of any of the Securities shall include, without limitation, any redemption, purchase or other acquisition of the Securities.

 

Section 10.2                            Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.

 

(a)          (a) Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon (i) any dissolution or winding-up or total or partial liquidation or reorganization of the Company whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy or (ii) any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, relative to the Company or to its assets, (iii) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshaling of assets of the Company, all obligations due, or to become due, in respect of Senior Debt (including interest after the commencement of any such proceeding at the rate specified in the applicable Senior Debt) shall first indefeasibly be paid in full, or provision shall have been made for such payment, in cash, cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt, before any payment is made on account of the principal of or interest on the Securities.  Upon any such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee under this Indenture would be entitled, except for the provisions hereof, 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 Holders of the Securities or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them, directly to the holders of Senior Debt (in order of priority, and when of equal priority, pro rata to such holders of equal priority on the basis of the amounts of Senior Debt held by such holders) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Debt may have been issued, as their interests may appear, for application to the payment of Senior Debt remaining unpaid until all such Senior Debt has been indefeasibly paid in full, or provisions shall have been made for such payment, in cash, cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of Senior Debt

 

(b)         For purposes of this Article X, the words “cash, property or securities” shall be deemed to include securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment which are subordinated, to at least the same extent as the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt then outstanding or to the

 

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payment of all securities issued in exchange therefor to the holders of Senior Debt at the time outstanding.  The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company with or 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 in Article V shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other corporation shall, as part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article V.

 

Section 10.3                            Default of Senior Debt.

 

(a)          In the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Debt, or any amount owing from time to time under or in respect of Senior Debt or in the event that any nonpayment event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing and shall have resulted in such Senior Debt becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, or (b) in the event that any other nonpayment event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting the holders of such Senior Debt (or a trustee on behalf of the holders thereof) to declare such Senior Debt due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, then the Company shall make no payment, direct or indirect (including any payment which may be payable by reason of the payment of any other Indebtedness of the Company being subordinated to the payment of the Securities) on account of any Securities unless and until (i) such event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist or such acceleration shall have been rescinded or annulled, or (ii) in case of any nonpayment event of default specified in (b), during the period (a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing on the date the Company and the Trustee receive written notice (a “Payment Notice”) of such event of default (which notice shall be binding on the Trustee and the Holders as to the occurrence of such an event of default) from a holder of the Senior Debt to which such default relates and ending on the earliest of (A) 179 days after such date, (B) the date, if any, on which such Senior Debt to which such default relates is discharged or such default is waived by the holders of such Senior Debt or otherwise cured and (C) the date on which the Trustee receives written notice from the holder of such Senior Debt to which such default relates terminating the Payment Blockage Period.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, during any Payment Blockage Period, the Company shall make payments for rescinded subscriptions under Section 2.2(b) (including subscriptions that occur at a time when a Post-Effective Amendment was required but not yet effective).  The holders of the Senior Debt may deliver up to three (3) Payment Notices to the Company and the Trustee in any 360 day period, provided that in no event shall the cumulative Payment Blockage Periods exceed 179 days in a 360 day period.

 

(b)         Subject to the provisions of Sections 6.9 and 10.7, neither the Trustee nor the Holders may take any action to assert, demand, sue for, collect, enforce or realize upon the Securities or the related Obligations or any part thereof in any period during which the Company is not permitted to make payment on account of the Securities pursuant to

 

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Section 10.3, unless and only to the extent that the commencement of a legal action may be required to toll the running of any applicable statute of limitations.

 

Section 10.4                            When Distribution Must Be Paid Over.

 

(a)          If the Trustee or any Holder receives any payment with respect to the Securities, whether in cash, property or securities, that the Company is prohibited from making under Section 10.3, such payment shall be held by the Trustee or such Holder, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over and delivered to, the holders of Senior Debt (in order of their priority, and when of equal priority, pro rata to such holders of equal priority on the basis of the amounts of Senior Debt held by such holders) for application to the payment of all Obligations with respect to Senior Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full, in cash, cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt, in accordance with the terms of such Senior Debt, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Debt.

 

(b)         With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform only such obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically set forth in this Article X, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt, and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders or the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article X, except if with respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform only such obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically set forth in this Article X, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt, and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders or, if permitted by this Agreement, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article X, except if such payment is made as a result of the willful misconduct or negligence of the Trustee.

 

Section 10.5                            Notice by Company.

 

The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent in writing of any facts known to the Company that would cause a payment of any Obligations with respect to the Company to violate this Article, but failure to give such notice shall not affect the subordination of the Securities to the Senior Debt provided in this Article.

 

Section 10.6                            Subrogation.

 

After all Senior Debt is paid in full, in cash, cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Debt, and until the Securities are paid in full, Holders shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all other Indebtedness pari passu with the Securities) to the rights of holders of Senior Debt to receive distributions applicable to Senior

 

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Debt to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to the Holders have been applied to the payment of Senior Debt.

 

Section 10.7                            Relative Rights.

 

(a)          This Article defines the relative rights of Holders and holders of Senior Debt. Nothing in this Indenture shall:

 

(i)                                     impair, as between the Company and Holders, the obligations of the Company, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and interest on the Securities in accordance with their terms;

 

(ii)                                  affect the relative rights of Holders and creditors of the Company other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior Debt; or

 

(iii)                               prevent the Trustee or any Holder from exercising its available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders and owners of Senior Debt to receive distributions and payments otherwise payable to Holders.

 

(b)         If the Company fails because of this Article to pay principal of or interest on a Security on the due date, the failure is still a Default or Event of Default.

 

Section 10.8                            Subordination May Not Be Impaired by the Company or Holders of Senior Debt.

 

(a)          No right of any present or future holder of Senior Debt to enforce the subordination of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Securities and the Obligations related thereto shall be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act by any such holder or by the Company, the Trustee or any Agent or by the failure of the Company or the Trustee to comply with this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

 

(b)         Without limiting the effect of the preceding paragraph, any holder of Senior Debt may at any time and from time to time without the consent of or notice to any Holder or to the Trustee, without impairing or releasing any of the rights of any holder of Senior Debt under this Indenture, upon or without any terms or conditions and in whole or in part:

 

(i)                                     change the manner, place or term of payment, or change or extend the time of payment of, renew, increase or alter any Senior Debt or any other liability of the Company to such holder, any security therefor, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof, and the provisions of this Article X shall apply to the Senior Debt as so changed, extended, increased, renewed or altered;

 

(ii)                                  notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.1 hereof, sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon or otherwise deal with in any manner 

 

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and in any order any property by whomsoever at any time pledged or mortgaged to secure, or howsoever securing, any Senior Debt or any other liability of the Company or any other Person to such holder or any other liabilities incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or hereof or any offset thereagainst;

 

(iii)                               exercise or refrain from exercising any rights or remedies against the Company or any other Person or otherwise act or refrain from acting or, for any reason, fail to file, record or otherwise perfect any security interest in or lien on any property of the Company or any other Person;

 

(iv)                              settle or compromise or release any Senior Debt or any other liability of the Company or any other Person to such holder, or any security therefor, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof;

 

(v)                                 retain or obtain, or refrain from retaining or obtaining, a security interest in any property to secure any of the Senior Debt; and

 

(vi)                              retain or obtain, or refrain from retaining or obtaining any primary or secondary obligation with respect to any Senior Debt.

 

(c)          All rights and interests under this Indenture of any holder of Senior Debt and all agreements and obligations of the Trustee, the Holders, and the Company under Article VI and under this Article X shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any agreement or instrument relating to any Senior Debt or (ii) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Trustee, any Holder, or the Company.

 

(d)         Any holder of Senior Debt is hereby authorized to demand specific performance of the provisions of this Article X, whether or not the Company shall have complied with any of the provisions of this Article X applicable to it, at any time when the Trustee or any Holder shall have failed to comply with any of these provisions. The Trustee and the Holders irrevocably waive any defense based on the adequacy of a remedy at law that might be asserted as a bar to such remedy of specific performance.

 

Section 10.9                            Distribution or Notice to Representative.

 

(a)          Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to any holder of Senior Debt, the distribution may be made and the notice given to the duly appointed representative of such holder.

 

(b)         Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article X, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon, with respect to any holder of Senior Debt, any certificate of any representative of such holder believed by the Trustee or the Holder in good faith to be genuine or for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution and the holders of the Senior Debt and other Indebtedness of the Company.

 

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Section 10.10                     Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent.

 

(a)          Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article X or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment or distribution by the Trustee, or the taking of any action by the Trustee, and the Trustee or Paying Agent may continue to make payments on the Securities unless it shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment written notice of facts that would cause the payment of any Obligations with respect to the Securities to violate this Article, which notice, unless specified by a holder of Senior Debt as such, shall not be deemed to be a Payment Notice. The Trustee may conclusively rely on such notice believed by it in good faith to be genuine. Only the Company or a holder of Senior Debt may give the notice. As between the Company and the Trustee, nothing in this Article X shall apply to amounts due to, or impair the claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.7 hereof.

 

(b)         The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Debt with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights.

 

(c)          The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt of the Company and shall not be liable to any such holder for any action it takes or omits to take within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

Section 10.11                     Authorization to Effect Subordination.

 

Each Holder of a Security by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, as between the holders of Senior Debt and the Holders, the subordination as provided in this Article X, and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 10.12                     Article Applicable to Paying Agent.

 

In case at any time any Paying Agent (other than the Trustee or the Company) shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article X shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article X in addition to or in place of the Trustee.

 

Section 10.13                     Miscellaneous.

 

(a)          The agreements contained in this Article X shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Senior Debt is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any holder of Senior Debt upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

 

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(b)         The Trustee shall notify all holders of Senior Debt (of whose identity the Trustee has received reasonable advance written notice) of the existence of any Default or Event of Default under Section 6.1 promptly after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually becomes aware thereof; provided, however, that at least five Business Days prior to the notification of any holder of Senior Debt under this Section 10.13, the Trustee shall provide the Company with notice of its intent to provide such notification, provided further, however, that no defect in the form or delivery of the Trustee’s notice to the Company shall preclude the timely notice by the Trustee to the holders of Senior Debt.

 

(c)          This Article shall be effective and may not be terminated or otherwise revoked by any Holder until all Senior Debt has been fully paid and discharged.

 

ARTICLE XI
 MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 11.1                            Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA § 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.

 

Section 11.2                            Notices.

 

(a)          Any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication by the Company, the Trustee or any other holder of Senior Debt to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other’s address:

 

If to the Company:

 

Twin Cities Power Holdings, LLC

16233 Kenyon Ave., Suite 210

Lakeville, Minnesota 55044

Attention:  Legal Department

Telecopier: (952) 898-3571

 

With a copy to:

 

Leonard, Street and Deinard Professional Association

150 South 5th Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Attention:  Mark S. Weitz

Telecopier:  (612) 335-1657

 

If to the Trustee:

 

If to a holder of Senior Debt, such address as such holder of Senior Debt shall have provided in writing to the Company and the Trustee.

 

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(b)         The Company, the Trustee or a holder of Senior Debt by notice to the Company and the Trustee may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

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

 

(d)         Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

(e)          If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

(f)            If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

Section 11.3                            Communication by Holders with Other Holders.

 

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Trustee shall be subject to § 312(b).  The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

 

Section 11.4                            Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(a)          an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.5) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

(b)         an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.5) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with.

 

Section 11.5                            Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall include:

 

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(a)          a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 11.6                            Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 11.7                            Legal Holidays.

 

A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Minnesota or at a place of payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

Section 11.8                            No Recourse Against Others.

 

No Governor, officer, employee, agent, manager or member of the Company as such, shall have any liability for any Obligations of the Company under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such Obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability.

 

Section 11.9                            Duplicate Originals.

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

 

Section 11.10                     Governing Law.

 

THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SHALL GOVERN THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.

 

47

 

Section 11.11       No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 11.12       Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

Section 11.13       Severability.

 

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

 

Section 11.14       Counterpart Originals.

 

This Indenture may be executed by facsimile and in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Section 11.15       Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table 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 thereof.

 

Section 11.16       USA Patriot Act

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions, and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee.  The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

Section 11.17       Force Majeure

 

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

 

[remainder of page blank]

 

48

 

SIGNATURES:

 

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

 

	
 
    	
TWIN CITIES POWER HOLDINGS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 ,
    
	
 
    	
as   Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
				

 

49

 

EXHIBIT A

 

THIS RENEWABLE UNSECURED SUBORDINATED NOTE (THE “NOTE”) OF TWIN CITIES POWER HOLDINGS, LLC (THE “COMPANY”) IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE INDENTURE, WHICH AMONG OTHER PROVISIONS, CONTAINS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HOLDER TO TRANSFER THIS NOTE, INCLUDING THE PRIOR CONSENT OF THE COMPANY TO ANY SUCH TRANSFER.  THE INDENTURE HAS BEEN FILED AS EXHIBIT 4.1 TO THE COMPANY’S REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-1 DECLARED EFFECTIVE BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OR ABOUT                                         , 2012, PURSUANT TO WHICH THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE COMPANY.

 

THE COMPANY MAY REDEEM THIS NOTE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE INDENTURE.

 

TWIN CITIES POWER HOLDINGS, LLC

 

Organized Under the Laws of Minnesota

 

RENEWABLE UNSECURED SUBORDINATED NOTE

 

	
Registered   No.:                  
    	
 
    	
Registered   Principal Amount: $              
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Issue   Date:                  
    	
 
    	
Interest   Rate:              
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Term:                      
    	
 
    	
Interest   Payment Schedule:               
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Maturity   Date:                   
    	
 
    	
Payment   Date (for interest):                  
    

 

Twin Cities Power Holdings, LLC, a limited liability company created under the laws of the State of Minnesota (the “Company,” which term includes any successor entity under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                                                                               , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                          Dollars ($                ) on the Maturity Date and to pay accrued and unpaid interest hereon from the Issue Date set forth above, or from the most recent Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, beginning on the first Payment Date after the Issue Date (the “Initial Payment Date”) and on each subsequent Payment Date thereafter at the Interest Rate set forth above, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment; provided, however, that if the Payment Date is within five (5) Business Days of the Issue Date, then the first payment will be made in the following month and will include the interest earned since the Issue Date.  Interest shall accrue on the principal amount for the period from the later of the Issue Date of this Note or the last Payment Date upon which an interest payment was made until and including the day before the following Payment Date.  Initially capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings given such terms in the Indenture.  The principal hereof is subject to optional redemption by the Company and optional repurchase at the request of the Holder, as provided in the Indenture, and if not so redeemed or repurchased, shall be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date, which also shall constitute a Payment Date.

 

The principal and interest so payable and punctually paid or duly provided for on any Payment Date, as provided in the Indenture, will be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered (the “Holder”) at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such Payment Date.  Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office of the Paying Agent, or in such other office as may be selected in accordance with the Indenture, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made in United States dollars by wire or by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Securities Register.

 

50

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by or on behalf of the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual or facsimile signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal or interest of this Note against any Company organizer, member, officer, governor, employee, Affiliate or Agent by virtue of any statute or by enforcement of any assessment or otherwise.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Renewable Unsecured Subordinated Note to be signed in its name by the manual or facsimile signature of its President and attested to by the manual or facsimile signature of its Secretary.

 

	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
TWIN   CITIES POWER HOLDINGS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    

 

	
Attest:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 ,   Secretary
    	
 
    

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This Note is one of the Renewable Unsecured Subordinated Notes, referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 ,   as Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Authorized   Signature
    
						

 

51

 

REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE

 

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Renewable Unsecured Subordinated Notes of the Company designated as its Renewable Unsecured Subordinated Notes (the “Notes”) in the maximum aggregate principal amount of up to $50,000,000, issued and to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of                                           , 2012 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and                                                                     , as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor Trustee under the Indenture).  Reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders, and for a statement of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  Capitalized and certain other terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Indenture.

 

The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company.  The payment of the principal of and interest on this Note is expressly subordinated, as provided in the Indenture, to the payment of all Senior Debt and, by the acceptance of this Note, the Holder hereof agrees, expressly for the benefit of the present and future holders of Senior Debt, to be bound by the provisions of the Indenture relating to such subordination and authorizes and appoints as such Holder’s attorney-in-fact, the Trustee, to take such action on such Holder’s behalf as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate such subordination.  The Company may, at its option, at any time redeem this Note either in whole or from time to time in part prior to the Maturity Date by providing at least thirty (30) days written notice to the Holder.

 

If this Note shall be redeemed by a call for redemption and payment be duly provided hereof as specified in the Indenture, interest shall cease to accrue on this Note.

 

This Note may be transferred and exchanged only as provided in the Indenture. This Note may not be assigned, transferred or otherwise alienated without the prior written consent of the Company and shall be subject to the Company’s right to demand and receive an opinion of Holder’s legal counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company) that the transfer does not violate any applicable securities laws.  The Company may also require a signature guarantee.

 

Approximately fifteen (15) but not less than ten (10) days prior to the Maturity Date, the Company will send the Holder a Notice of Maturity to notify the Holder of the Maturity Date.  Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, if in the Notice of Maturity the Company does not notify the Holder of its intention to repay this Note, and unless before or within fifteen (15) days after the Maturity Date, the Holder has demanded repayment of this Note, this Note shall be automatically renewed for an additional term equal to the term of the maturing Note and shall be deemed to have been renewed by the Holder and the Company as of the Maturity Date, such that a new Note shall be deemed to have been issued as of such Maturity Date.  This Note will continue to renew as described herein absent some action permitted under the Indenture and this Note by either the Holder or the Company. Interest on the renewed Note shall accrue from the Issue Date thereof, which is the first day of such renewed term.  This renewed Note will be deemed to have identical terms and provisions as the maturing Note, including provisions relating to payment, except that the interest rate payable during the term of the renewed Note shall be the interest rate which is being offered by the Company on other Notes with the same term as of the Issue Date of such renewal.  If other Notes with the same term are not then being offered on the Issue Date of such renewal, the interest rate upon renewal will be the rate specified by the Company on or before the Maturity Date, or the Note’s existing rate if no such rate is specified.  If the Company gives notice to the Holder of the Company’s intention to repay the Note at maturity, the Company shall pay the Holder the principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest thereon on the Maturity Date, and, provided such payment is timely made, no interest will accrue after the Maturity Date.  Otherwise, if the Holder requests repayment within fifteen (15) days after the Maturity Date, no interest will accrue after the Maturity Date and the Holder will be sent payment upon the later of the Maturity Date or five (5) days following the date the Company receives such notice from Holder; provided that any interest paid to the Holder accruing after the Maturity Date shall be deducted from such payment.

 

If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the outstanding principal of this Note may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.  The Company shall pay all costs of collection, whether or not judicial proceedings are instituted, in the manner provided in the Indenture.  The

 

52

 

Indenture provides that such declaration and its consequences may, in certain events, be waived by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes outstanding.

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages of aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture or amendment or modification hereof or thereof shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.

 

In the event of a consolidation or merger of the Company into, or of the transfer of its assets substantially as an entirety to, a successor entity in accordance with the Indenture, such successor entity shall assume payment of the Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Indenture on the part of the Company, and in the event of any such transfer, the Company (or the successor entity in the event of a subsequent consolidation, merger or transfer) shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants in respect of the Notes and the Indenture and may be dissolved and liquidated, all as more fully set forth in the Indenture.

 

The Notes are originally issuable in such denominations as may be designated from time to time by the Company, but in no event in an original denomination less than $1,000.  Subject to the provisions of the Indenture (including without limitation Section 2.6 thereof), the transfer of this Note is registerable in the Securities Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Registrar duly endorsed by or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in the form printed on this Note or in another form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney, duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.  The Registrar may assess service charges for any such registration or transfer or exchange, and the Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota, without giving effect to the conflict of law provisions thereof.

 

53

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer this Note)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

(Please print name and address of transferee)

 

this Note, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                                     , as Attorney-in-Fact, to transfer the within Note on the books kept for registration thereof, with full power of substitution.

 

	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Signature:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Signature   must conform in all
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
respects   to name of holder as
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
specified   on the face of the Note)
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Social   Security
    	
 
    
	
or   Other Identifying
    	
 
    
	
Number   of Transferee:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Signature   Guaranteed:
    	
 
    	
 
    
				

 

54

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