UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: | November 29, 2001 | |
Date of Earliest Event Reported: | November 26, 2001 |
BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 1-5057 | 82-0100960 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
||
1111 West Jefferson Street P.O. Box 50 Boise, Idaho (Address of principal executive offices) |
83728-0001 (Zip Code) |
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208/384-6161 |
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code) |
On November 26, 2001, Boise Cascade Corporation (the "Company") filed a preliminary Prospectus Supplement supplementing the Prospectus contained in and forming part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company and Boise Cascade Trust I (Registration Statement Nos. 333-74981 and 333-74981-01) (the "Registration Statement"), which together describe the Adjustable Conversion-rate Equity Security Units to be offered, issued and sold to the public by the Company.
The exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K are incorporated into the Registration Statement by reference.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits. | ||
Exhibit 4.1 |
Form of Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Boise Cascade Trust I among the Company, as depositor, BNY Western Trust Company, as property trustee, and The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware trustee |
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Exhibit 4.2 |
Form of Trust Preferred Security of Boise Cascade Trust I (included in Exhibit 4.1) |
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Exhibit 4.3 |
Form of Guarantee Agreement between the Company, as guarantor, and BNY Western Trust Company, as guarantee trustee |
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Exhibit 23.4 |
Consent of Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION | ||||
By |
Karen E. Gowland |
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Karen E. Gowland Vice President and Corporate Secretary |
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Date: November 29, 2001 |
Number |
Description |
Page Number |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Exhibit 4.1 | Form of Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Boise Cascade Trust I among the Company, as depositor, BNY Western Trust Company, as property trustee, and The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware trustee | |||
Exhibit 4.2 |
Form of Trust Preferred Security of Boise Cascade Trust I (included in Exhibit 4.1) |
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Exhibit 4.3 |
Form of Guarantee Agreement between the Company, as guarantor, and BNY Western Trust Company, as guarantee trustee |
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Exhibit 23.4 |
Consent of Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC |
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
AMONG
BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION
as Depositor,
BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
as Property Trustee,
THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE),
as Delaware Trustee,
AND
THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN
Dated as of [ ], 2001
BOISE CASCADE TRUST I
|
Page |
|
---|---|---|
Certificate of Trust of Boise Cascade Trust I | Exhibit A | |
Form of Certificate Depositary Agreement | Exhibit B | |
Form of Common Securities of Boise Cascade Trust I | Exhibit C | |
Form of Preferred Securities of Boise Cascade Trust I | Exhibit D | |
Notice of Conversion | Exhibit E |
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Certain
Sections of this Declaration of Trust
relating to Sections 310 through 318
of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
Trust Indenture Act Section |
|
Declaration of Trust Section |
|
---|---|---|---|
Section 310 | (a)(1) | 8.7 | |
(a)(2) | 8.7 | ||
(a)(4) | 2.7(a)(ii) | ||
(b) | 8.8 | ||
Section 311 |
(a) |
8.12 |
|
(b) | 8.12 | ||
Section 312 |
(a) |
5.7 |
|
(b) | 5.7 | ||
(c) | 5.7 | ||
Section 313 |
(a) |
8.13(a) |
|
(c) | 10.8 | ||
(d) | 8.13(c) | ||
(a)(4) | 13(b) | ||
(b) | 8.13(b) | ||
Section 314 |
(a) |
8.14 |
|
(b) | Not Applicable | ||
(c)(1) | 8.15 | ||
(c)(2) | 8.15 | ||
(c)(3) | Not Applicable | ||
(d) | Not Applicable | ||
(e) | 1.1, 8.15 | ||
Section 315 |
(a) |
8.1(a), 8.3(a) |
|
(b) | 8.2, 10.8 | ||
(c) | 8.1(a) | ||
(d) | 8.1, 8.3 | ||
(e) | Not Applicable | ||
Section 316 |
(a) |
Not Applicable |
|
(a)(1)(A) | Not Applicable | ||
(a)(1)(B) | Not Applicable | ||
(a)(2) | Not Applicable | ||
(b) | Not Applicable | ||
(c) | 6.7 | ||
Section 317 |
(a)(1) |
Not Applicable |
|
(b) | 5.9 | ||
Section 318 |
(a) |
10.10 |
Note: This reconciliation and tie sheet shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Declaration of Trust.
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AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST, dated as of , 2001, among (i) Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (including any successors or assigns, the "Depositor"); (ii) BNY Western Trust Company, a national banking organization duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States, as property trustee (in such capacity, the "Property Trustee" and, in its personal capacity and not in its capacity as Property Trustee, the "Bank"); (iii) The Bank of New York (Delaware), a Delaware corporation, as Delaware trustee (in such capacity, the "Delaware Trustee"), (iv) , an individual, and , an individual, each of whose address is c/o Boise Cascade Corporation, 1111 West Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 50, Boise, Idaho 83728-0001, (each, an "Administrative Trustee" and, collectively, the "Administrative Trustees" and, collectively with the Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee, the "Trustees"); and (v) the several Holders (as hereinafter defined). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as follows:
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Depositor and certain of the Trustees have heretofore duly declared and established a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust Act by the entering into of that certain Trust Agreement, dated as of May 21, 1998, as amended by the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of March 22, 1999 (the "Original Declaration of Trust"), and by the execution and filing by certain of the Trustees with the secretary of state of the state of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, filed on May 21, 1998, attached as Exhibit A, for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (as defined herein) and investing the proceeds thereof in the Debentures (as defined herein);
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust have been issued; and
WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Trustees desire to amend and restate the Original Declaration of Trust in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other things, (i) the issuance and sale of the Common Securities (as defined herein) by the Trust to the Depositor, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) by the Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (as defined herein), and (iii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in the Debentures;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other party and for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) of the Preferred Securities, hereby amends and restates the Original Declaration of Trust in its entirety and agrees as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINED TERMS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions. For all purposes of this Declaration of Trust, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;
(c) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an "Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Declaration of Trust; and
(d) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Declaration of Trust as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.8.
"Additional Amount" means, with respect to the Trust Securities, the amount of Additional Interest (as defined in the Indenture) paid by the Depositor on the Debentures.
"Administrative Trustee" means each of [Irving Littman and John W. Holleran], each solely in his capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in his individual capacity, or such Administrative Trustee's successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor administrative trustee appointed as herein provided.
"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, provided, however that an Affiliate of the Depositor shall not be deemed to include the Trust. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Certificate or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Clearing Agency for such security, to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
"Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Declaration of Trust.
"Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:
(a) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises judging such Person as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or composition of or in respect of such Person under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of such Person or of any substantial part of its property or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(b) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due and its willingness to be adjudicated a bankrupt, or the taking of corporate action by such Person in furtherance of any such action.
"Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 10.9.
"Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Depositor or any committee of that board duly authorized to act hereunder.
"Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates" means a beneficial interest in the Preferred Securities Certificates, ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 5.11.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed.
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"Certificate Depositary Agreement" means the agreement among the Trust, the Depositor and The Depository Trust Company, as the initial Clearing Agency, dated as of the Closing Date, relating to the Trust Securities Certificates substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time.
"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that has been designated to act as depositary for the Preferred Securities pursuant to the Certificate Depositary Agreement. The Depository Trust Company will be the initial Clearing Agency.
"Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency.
"Closing Date" means the first Time of Delivery (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement).
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
"Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership of Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C.
"Common Security" means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $50 and having the rights provided therefor in this Declaration of Trust, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"Common Stock" means common stock, $2.50 par value per share, of the Depositor.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal corporate trust office of the Property Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at , Attention: Corporate Trust Services.
"Coupon Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
"Current Market Price", with respect to Common Stock, means for any day the last reported sale price, regular way, on such day, or, if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, in either case as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Consolidated Transactions Tape, or, if Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange on such day, on the principal national securities exchange on which Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading, if Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, or the Nasdaq National Market, or, if Common Stock is not quoted or admitted to trading on such quotation system, on the principal quotation system on which Common Stock may be listed or admitted to trading or quoted, or, if not listed or admitted to trading or quoted on any national securities exchange or quotation system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices of Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on the day in question as reported by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated, or a similar generally accepted reporting service, or, if not so available in such manner, as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm selected from time to time by the Board of Directors for that purpose or, if not so available in such manner, as otherwise determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.
"Debenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in the Indenture.
"Debenture Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Debentures to be redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption thereof under the Indenture.
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"Debenture Trustee" means BNY Western Trust Company, a national banking association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States, as trustee under the Indenture.
"Debentures" means $ aggregate principal amount of the Depositor's % senior debentures issued pursuant to the Indenture.
"Declaration of Trust" means this Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, including all exhibits hereto, including, for all purposes of this Declaration of Trust and any such modification, amendment or supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Declaration of Trust and any such modification, amendment or supplement, respectively.
"Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates" means either or both (as the context requires) of (a) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.11(a) and (b) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.13.
"Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C., Section 3801, et. seq., as it may be amended from time to time.
"Delaware Trustee" means the Person identified as the "Delaware Trustee" in the preamble to this Declaration of Trust solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Delaware trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Depositor" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Declaration of Trust.
"Direct Action" has the meaning specified in Section 6.8.
"Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a).
"Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in Section 4.1.
"Early Termination Event" has the meaning specified in Section 9.2.
"Event of Default" means the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default, whatever the reason for such Debenture Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.
"Exchange Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 4.4(b).
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 9.1.
"Failed Remarketing" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.
"Global Certificate" has the meaning specified in Section 5.2.
"Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and delivered by the Depositor and BNY Western Trust Company, a national banking association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States, as guarantee trustee, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Declaration of Trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, as amended from time to time.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust Securities Certificate representing a Trust Security is registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business Trust Act.
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"Indenture" means the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated December , 2001, between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as trustee, to the Indenture dated as of October 1, 1985 between the Depositor and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever.
"Liquidation Amount" means an amount with respect to the assets of the Trust equal to $50 per Trust Security.
"Liquidation Date" means each date on which Debentures or cash are to be distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a termination and liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4(a).
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 9.4(d).
"1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
"Normal Units" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by (i) the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman, the President or a Vice President, and by (ii) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Depositor, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to Section 8.15 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Depositor. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Declaration of Trust shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Depositor, and who may be an employee of any thereof, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee. Any Opinion of Counsel delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Declaration of Trust shall include:
(a) a statement that each individual signing the Opinion of Counsel has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each individual in rendering the Opinion of Counsel;
(c) a statement that each individual has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such individual to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
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(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Original Declaration of Trust" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Declaration of Trust.
"Outstanding", when used with respect to Trust Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Trust Securities theretofore executed and delivered under this Declaration of Trust, except:
(a) Trust Securities theretofore cancelled by the Securities Registrar or delivered to the Securities Registrar for cancellation or tendered for conversion;
(b) Trust Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any Paying Agent for the Holders of such Trust Securities; provided that, if such Trust Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Declaration of Trust; and
(c) Trust Securities which have been paid or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Trust Securities have been executed and delivered pursuant to Section 5.5;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Trust Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Trust Securities owned by the Depositor, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or any Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (a) in determining whether any Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Trust Securities that such Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded and (b) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the Outstanding Trust Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or more of the Trustees and/or any such Affiliate. Trust Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Securities Registrar the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Trust Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.
"Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of a Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate as reflected in the records of the Clearing Agency or, if a Clearing Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected in the records of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly or indirectly, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency).
"Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 5.9.
"Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest bearing corporate trust account maintained by the Property Trustee with the Bank in its trust department for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts paid in respect of the Debentures will be held and from which the Property Trustee shall make payments to the Securityholders in accordance with Section 4.1.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Preferred Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership of Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D.
"Preferred Security" means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $50 and having the rights provided therefor in this Declaration of Trust, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
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"Property Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company identified as the "Property Trustee" in the preamble to this Declaration of Trust solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor property trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Purchase Contract Agent" means BNY Western Trust Company, as purchase contract agent under the Purchase Contract Agreement until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such successor Purchase Contract Agent.
"Purchase Contract Agreement" means the Purchase Contract Agreement dated as of [ ], 2001 between the Purchase Contract Agent and the Depositor.
"Related Party" means, with respect to the Depositor, any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Depositor or any other Person that owns, directly or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding voting securities of the Depositor.
"Relevant Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 8.9.
"Remarketing Agent" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.
"Remarketing Agreement" means the form of Remarketing Agreement to be entered into by and among the Depositor, the Trust, the Remarketing Agent and the Purchase Contract Agent in connection with the remarketing of the capital securities.
"Remarketing Date" means the [ ] business day preceding [ ], 2004.
"Remarketing Value" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.
"Reset Agent" means a nationally recognized investment banking firm chosen by the Depositor to determine the Reset Rate.
"Reset Rate" means the lowest distribution rate per annum (rounded to the nearest one-thousandth (0.001) of one percent per annum), to be determined by the Reset Agent, that the Preferred Securities should bear in order for the Preferred Securities to have a market value at the Remarketing Date or any Subsequent Remarketing Date, as the case may be, of 100.5% of the Remarketing Value, assuming, for this purpose, even if not true, that all of the Preferred Securities are held as components of Normal Units and will be remarketed; provided, however, that if there has been a Failed Remarketing, the Reset Rate will be equal to the Coupon Rate, as defined in Section [ ], until the Preferred Securities are successfully remarketed pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement and Remarketing Agreement.
"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective meanings specified in Section 5.4.
"Securityholder" has the same meaning as "Holder."
"Special Event" means a Tax Event.
"Subsequent Remarketing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.
"Successor Delaware Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 8.9.
"Successor Property Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 8.9.
"Successor Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 9.5.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by Depositor of advice of counsel, which may be Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC or another law firm having a nationally-recognized tax practice, that there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Company will not be able to deduct all of the interest payable on the Debentures for U.S. federal income tax purposes; (ii) the Trust is or will become subject to U.S. federal
7
income income tax; or (iii) the Trust is or will become subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes or governmental charges; a Tax Event may occur as a result of a change or announced change in law or regulation or a change or announced change in interpretation of law or regulation.
"Treasury Portfolio" means a portfolio of U.S. treasury securities which will consist of interest or principal strips of U.S. treasury securities which mature on or before the Stock Purchase Date. The portfolio will be in an amount equal to the total Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities included in the Normal Units. The portfolio will also include interest or principal strips of U.S. Treasury securities in an amount sufficient to pay distributions on the preferred securities for each scheduled quarterly distribution date on the Preferred Securities occurring after the Tax Event redemption date through the Stock Purchase Date, assuming that the distribution rate on the preferred securities was not reset on the reset date, and maturing to timely make such distributions. The Depositor will not be able to call the treasury securities.
To determine the price of the Treasury Portfolio, the Depositor will retain a quotation agent to solicit the lowest total price quoted by a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City to the agent on the third business day before the Tax Event Redemption Date to permit settlement on the Tax Event Redemption Date. The quotation agent will be Goldman, Sachs & Co. and its successors, or, if Goldman, Sachs & Co. ceases to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer, another primary U.S. governmental securities dealer.
"Termination Event" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.
"Trust" means the Delaware business trust continued hereby and identified on the cover page of this Declaration of Trust.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Payment Account, and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust for the benefit of the Securityholders.
"Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred Securities.
"Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities Certificates, the Global Certificates or the Certificated Preferred Securities.
"Trustees" means, collectively, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees.
"Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of , 2001, among the Trust, the Depositor, and the Underwriter(s) named therein.
"Units" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.
ARTICLE 2
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST
SECTION 2.1. Name. The Trust created hereby shall be known as "Boise Cascade Trust I", as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrative Trustees following written notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and the other Trustees, in which name the Trustees may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued.
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SECTION 2.2. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business. The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is , Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or such other address in the state of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by written notice to the Securityholders and the Depositor. The principal executive office of the Trust is 1111 West Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 50, Boise, Idaho 83728-6161.
SECTION 2.3. Organizational Expenses. The Depositor shall pay organizational expenses of the Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of any Trustee, promptly reimburse such Trustee for any such expenses paid by such Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such expenses.
SECTION 2.4. Issuance of the Preferred Securities. On , 2001, the Depositor and an Administrative Trustee on behalf of the Trust executed and delivered the Underwriting Agreement. On the Closing Date, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver in accordance with Section 5.2 Preferred Securities Certificates, in an aggregate amount of Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $ , against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Preferred Securities of $ , which amount the Administrative Trustees shall promptly deliver to the Property Trustee.
SECTION 2.5. Subscription and Purchase of Debentures; Issuance of the Common Securities. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Declaration of Trust, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase from the Depositor the Debentures, registered in the name of the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and having an aggregate principal amount equal to $ , and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of $ . Contemporaneously therewith, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in accordance with Section 5.2 and deliver to the Depositor the Common Securities Certificates registered in the name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $ against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Common Securities from the Depositor in the amount of $ .
SECTION 2.6. Declaration of Trust. The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Debentures, (b) to distribute the Trust's income as provided in this Declaration of Trust, and (c) to engage in only those other activities necessary or incidental thereto. The Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments, pledge any of its assets or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The Depositor hereby appoints the Trustees as trustees of the Trust, to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein, and the Trustees hereby accept such appointment. The Property Trustee hereby declares that it will hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject to the conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Trust and the Securityholders. The Administrative Trustees shall have all rights, powers and duties set forth herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust. The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the Trustees of the Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Business Trust Act.
SECTION 2.7. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.
(a) The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Declaration of Trust. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.6 and paragraph (b) of this
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Section, and in accordance with the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Trustees shall have the exclusive power, duty and the authority to cause the Trust to engage in the following activities:
(i) As among the Trustees, each Administrative Trustee shall have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:
(A) to issue and sell the Trust Securities, provided, however, that the Trust may issue no more than one series of Preferred Securities and no more than one series of Common Securities, and, provided, further, that there shall be no interests in the Trust other than the Trust Securities, and the issuance of Trust Securities shall be limited to simultaneous issuance of both Preferred Securities and Common Securities on the Closing Date, subject to the issuance of Trust Securities pursuant to Section 5.5 and Successor Securities pursuant to Section 9.5;
(B) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, the Underwriting Agreement, the Remarketing Agreement and the Certificate Depositary Agreement and such other agreements as may be necessary or incidental to the purposes and function of the Trust;
(C) to assist in the registration of the Preferred Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and under state securities or blue sky laws, and the qualification of this Declaration of Trust as a trust indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(D) to assist in the listing of the Preferred Securities upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be determined by the Depositor and the registration of the Preferred Securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the preparation and filing of all periodic and other reports and other documents pursuant to the foregoing (only to the extent that such listing or registration is requested by the Depositor);
(E) to appoint a Paying Agent, a Securities Registrar and an authenticating agent in accordance with this Declaration of Trust;
(F) to the extent provided in this Declaration of Trust, to wind up the affairs of and liquidate the Trust and prepare, execute and file the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
(G) unless otherwise requested of the Depositor, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees, or as otherwise required by the Delaware Business Trust Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to execute on behalf of the Trust (either acting alone or together with any other Administrative Trustees) any documents that the Administrative Trustees have the power to execute pursuant to this Declaration of Trust; and
(H) to take any action incidental to the foregoing as the Trustees may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Declaration of Trust including, but not limited to:
(x) causing the Trust not to be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the 1940 Act;
(y) causing the Trust to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust; and
(z) cooperating with the Depositor to ensure that the Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes;
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provided that such action does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of Securityholders or the remaining Trustees except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2(a).
(ii) As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:
(A) the establishment of the Payment Account;
(B) the receipt of and taking title to the Debentures;
(C) the collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the Debentures in the Payment Account;
(D) the distribution from the Trust Property of amounts owed to the Securityholders in respect of the Trust Securities in accordance with the Declaration of Trust;
(E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Debentures following an occurrence of an Event of Default;
(F) the sending of notices of default, other notices and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Debentures to the Securityholders in accordance with this Declaration of Trust;
(G) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Declaration of Trust;
(H) to the extent provided in this Declaration of Trust, the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the secretary of state of the state of Delaware;
(I) after an Event of Default, the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Securityholder);
(J) subject to this Section 2.7(a)(ii), the Property Trustee shall have none of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 2.7(a)(i); and
(K) to act as Paying Agent and/or Securities Registrar to the extent appointed as such hereunder.
(b) So long as this Declaration of Trust remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, the Trust shall not, and the Trustees shall not and shall cause the Trust not to (i) invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the Debentures (rather, the Trustees shall distribute all such proceeds to the Securityholders pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and the Trust Securities), acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Declaration of Trust, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Securityholders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a "grantor trust" for United States federal income tax purposes, (iv) make any loans or incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any other debt, (v) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property, (vi) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the Trust assets or the terms of the Trust Securities in any way whatsoever except as permitted by the
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terms of this Declaration of Trust, or (vii) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the Trust Securities. The Administrative Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders.
(c) In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following actions (and any actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Declaration of Trust are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
(i) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, the Underwriting Agreement and the Certificate Depositary Agreement and such other agreements as may be necessary or incidental to the purposes and functions of the Trust;
(ii) to file with the Commission and to execute on behalf of the Trust a registration statement on the appropriate form in relation to the Preferred Securities, including any amendments thereto;
(iii) to determine the States and foreign jurisdictions in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and advise the Trustees of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and prepare for execution and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States and foreign jurisdictions;
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(iv) to the extent necessary, to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission and to execute on behalf of the Trust a registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including any amendments thereto and to assist in the listing of the Preferred Securities upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be determined by the Depositor;
(v) to negotiate the terms of the Remarketing Agreement; and
(vi) any other actions necessary or incidental to carry out any of the foregoing activities.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the 1940 Act, or taxed as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Declaration of Trust, that each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees determines in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, so long as such action does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2(a).
SECTION 2.8. Assets of Trust. The assets of the Trust shall consist of only the Trust Property.
SECTION 2.9. Title to Trust Property. Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Trust and the Securityholders in accordance with this Declaration of Trust. Each Securityholder shall not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust.
ARTICLE 3
PAYMENT ACCOUNT
SECTION 3.1. Payment Account.
(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and any agent of the Property Trustee shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment Account in accordance with this Declaration of Trust. All monies and other property deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in the Payment Account for the exclusive benefit of the Securityholders and for distribution as herein provided, including (and subject to) any priority of payments provided for herein.
(b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal of or interest on, and any other payments or proceeds with respect to, the Debentures. Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending distribution thereof.
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ARTICLE 4
DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION; EXCHANGE
SECTION 4.1. Distributions.
(a) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative, and shall accrue from the date of original issuance, or the most recent Distribution Date (as defined herein) and defer the payment of interest on the Debentures pursuant to the Indenture, shall be payable quarterly in arrears on , , and of each year, commencing on , 2002 (which dates correspond to the interest payment dates on the Debentures), when, as and if available for payment by the Property Trustee, as further described in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.1.
(b) The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in the Trust Property, and the Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be payable initially at a rate of % per annum (the "Coupon Rate") of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities, through and including [ ], 2004, and at the Reset Rate thereafter, such rates being the rates of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Property Trustee. The term "Distributions" as used herein includes such cash distributions and any such interest payable unless otherwise stated. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. For periods less than a full month, Distributions shall reflect interest on Debentures computed on the basis of the actual number of elapsed days for any period based on a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. [The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall include the Additional Amounts, if any.]
(c) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the Property Trustee from the Payment Account and shall be payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Distributions.
(d) Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be the date which is the Business Day next preceding such Distribution Date. Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the Declaration, each such payment in respect of the Preferred Securities will be made as described under the heading "Description of the UnitsDescription of the Trust SecuritiesBook-Entry Only Issuance" in the Prospectus Supplement dated [ ], 2001 (the "Prospectus Supplement") of the Trust relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (file nos. 333-74981 and 333-74981-01) of the Depositor and the Trust. The relevant record dates for the Common Securities shall be the same record date as for the Preferred Securities. If the Preferred Securities shall not continue to remain in book-entry only form or are not in book-entry only form at issuance, the relevant record dates for the Preferred Securities shall conform to the rules of any securities exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed and, if none, as shall be selected by the Administrative Trustees, which dates shall be at least more than one, but less than 60 Business Days before the relevant payment dates, which payment dates correspond to the interest payment dates on the Debentures. Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually paid on any Distribution payment date, as a result of the Depositor having failed to make a payment under the Debentures, will cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the special record date or other specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture. If any date on which Distributions are payable on the Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Distribution payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or
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other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. So long as the Holder of any Preferred Securities is the Collateral Agent, the payment of distributions on such Preferred Securities held by the Collateral Agent will be made at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Collateral Agent.
(e) On the Remarketing Date and any Subsequent Remarketing Date, the Reset Agent will attempt to establish the Reset Rate as of such date (which Reset Rate will be in effect from and after , 2004). By approximately 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on the Remarketing Date and any Subsequent Remarketing Date, provided that the Reset Agent has successfully established a Reset Rate on such date, the Reset Agent shall advise, by telephone the Depositary, the Property Trustee, the Purchase Contract Agent, the Debenture Trustee and the Depositor of the Reset Rate determined in the reset. The Depositor will cause a notice of the Reset Rate to be published on the second Business Day following the Remarketing Date and any such Subsequent Remarketing Date in a daily newspaper in the English language of general circulation in The City of New York, which is expected to be The Wall Street Journal.
(f) In the event that there is any money or other property held by or for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be distributed Pro Rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the Securities.
SECTION 4.2. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
SECTION 4.3. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
SECTION 4.4. Tax Event Exchange or Redemption.
(a) If a Tax Event shall occur and be continuing the Depositor shall have the right to cause the Trust to redeem all, but not less than all, of the Preferred Securities at the "redemption amount" for each Preferred Security, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any, to the date of redemption. If Preferred Securities are held as part of Normal Units, the redemption amount of such Preferred Securities will be the product of $50 and a fraction, the numerator of which is the purchase price of the Treasury Portfolio and the denominator of which is the total liquidation amount of all of the Preferred Securities included in Normal Units. If the Tax Event Redemption occurs after either the Stock Purchase Date or a successful remarketing of the Preferred Securities, or if Preferred Securities are held separately from the Units, the redemption amount will be the liquidation amount.
(b) If the Tax Event Redemption occurs before the Stock Purchase Date or a successful remarketing of the Preferred Securities, the redemption price for the Preferred Securities forming part of Normal Units will be distributed to the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent will, in turn, purchase the applicable portfolio of U.S. treasury securities on behalf of the Holders. The portfolio of U.S. treasury securities will then be substituted for the corresponding Preferred Securities and pledged to the Collateral Agent to secure the obligation to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Purchase Contracts. The Collateral Agent will then remit the remainder of the Redemption Amount, if any, to the Purchase Contract Agent for payment to the Holders. In the event that the Tax Event Redemption occurs after the Stock Purchase Date or the successful remarketing of the Preferred Securities, or in the event Preferred Securities are held separately from the Units, the Trust will pay the cash proceeds of the tax redemption directly to the holders of the Preferred Securities.
(c) The Trust will mail to each registered holder of Preferred Securities to its registered address notification of any Tax Event Redemption at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date. Unless the Depositor defaults in payment of the Redemption Price,
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on and after the redemption date distributions will no longer accrue on the Preferred Securities. If any Senior Debentures are called for redemption, neither we nor the Trustee will be required to register the transfer of or exchange of the Preferred Securities to be redeemed.
(d) Nothing in this Section 4.4 shall limit the requirement of the Trust to withhold taxes pursuant to the terms of the Trust Securities, as set forth in this Agreement or under applicable law or otherwise require the Property Trustee or the Trust to pay any amounts on account of such withholdings.
SECTION 4.5. Subordination of Common Securities. Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on the Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro rata based on the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on any Common Security, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on all Outstanding Preferred Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on Preferred Securities then due and payable.
SECTION 4.6. Payment Procedures. Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register or, if the Preferred Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, such Distributions shall be made to the Clearing Agency in immediately available funds, in accordance with the Certificate Depositary Agreement on the applicable Distribution Dates. Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Holder of the Common Securities.
SECTION 4.7. Tax Returns and Reports. The Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), at the Depositor's expense, and file (or cause to be filed) all United States federal, state and local tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the Trust. In this regard, the Administrative Trustees shall (a) prepare and file (or cause to be prepared or filed) Form 1041 or the appropriate Internal Revenue Service form required to be filed in respect of the Trust in each taxable year of the Trust and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished) to each Security holder a Form 1099 or the appropriate Internal Revenue Service form required to be furnished to such Securityholder or the information required to be provided on such form. The Administrative Trustees shall provide (or cause to be provided) the Depositor and the Property Trustee with a copy of all such returns, reports and schedules promptly after such filing or furnishing. The Administrative Trustees shall comply with United States federal withholding and backup withholding tax laws and information reporting requirements with respect to any payments to Securityholders under the Trust Securities.
SECTION 4.8. Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust. Upon receipt under the Debentures of Additional Sums, the Property Trustee, upon receipt of written notice from the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees, shall promptly pay from such Additional Sums any taxes, duties or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than withholding taxes), as indicated in such notice, imposed on the Trust by the United States or any other taxing authority.
SECTION 4.9. Payments under Indenture. Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred Securities (and any Owner with respect thereto) shall be reduced by the amount of any corresponding payment such Holder (or Owner) has directly received pursuant to Section [ ] of the Indenture in accordance with the terms of Section 6.8 hereof.
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ARTICLE 5
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
SECTION 5.1. Initial Ownership. Upon the formation of the Trust and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are Outstanding, the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust.
SECTION 5.2. The Trust Securities Certificates. The Preferred Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of $50 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $50 in excess thereof, and the Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in denominations of $50 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples thereof. The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the Trust Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall not constitute a loan to the Trust. Initially the Preferred Securities will be represented by a certificate registered in the Securities Register in the name of a Clearing Agency or a nominee thereof, in global form (the "Global Certificate"). The Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of at least one Administrative Trustee and the Preferred Securities Certificates shall be authenticated by the Property Trustee. Trust Securities Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefit of this Declaration of Trust, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust Securities Certificate shall become a Securityholder, and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Securityholder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to Section 5.4.
SECTION 5.3. Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates. On the Closing Date, the Administrative Trustees shall cause Trust Securities Certificates, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in Sections 2.4 and 2.5, to be executed on behalf of the Trust and delivered to or upon the written order of the Depositor, signed by its Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, its President, or any Vice President, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or Controller without further corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations.
A Common Securities Certificate shall not be valid until executed by at least one Administrative Trustee. A Preferred Securities Certificate shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Property Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Preferred Securities Certificate has been authenticated under this Declaration of Trust. Upon a written order of the Trust signed by one Administrative Trustee, the Property Trustee shall authenticate the Preferred Securities Certificates for original issue.
The Property Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Administrative Trustees to authenticate Preferred Securities Certificates. An authenticating agent may authenticate Preferred Securities Certificates whenever the Property Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Declaration of Trust to authentication by the Property Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as the Property Trustee to deal with the Depositor or an Affiliate with respect to the authentication of Preferred Securities.
SECTION 5.4. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities. The Securities Registrar shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.8, a Securities Register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Securities Registrar shall provide for the registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and Common Securities Certificates (subject to Section 5.10 in the case of the Common Securities Certificates) and registration
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of transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Property Trustee shall be the initial Securities Registrar.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred Security at an office or agency of the Depositor designated pursuant to Section 5.8 for such purpose, the Depositor shall execute, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Preferred Securities of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.
At the option of the Holder, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 5.4, Preferred Securities may be exchanged for other Preferred Securities of any authorized denomination and of a like Liquidation Amount, upon surrender of the Preferred Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency. Whenever any Preferred Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Depositor shall execute, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Preferred Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
All Preferred Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Trust, evidencing the same rights, and entitled to the same benefits under this Declaration of Trust, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Preferred Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so requested by the Depositor or the Securities Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Depositor and the Securities Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates.
SECTION 5.5. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates. If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the Trust shall execute and make available for authentication, where applicable, and delivery, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a new Trust Securities Certificate of like denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities Certificate under this Section, the Securities Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicative Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found at any time.
SECTION 5.6. Persons Deemed Securityholders. The Property Trustee and the Securities Registrar shall treat the Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in the Securities Register as the owner of such Trust Securities Certificate for the purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Property Trustee nor the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary.
SECTION 5.7. Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses. The Administrative Trustees or the Depositor shall furnish or cause to be furnished (unless the Property Trustee is acting as
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Securities Registrar with respect to the Trust Securities under the Declaration of Trust) a list, in such form as the Property Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders as of the most recent record date (a) to the Property Trustee, quarterly at least 5 Business Days before each Distribution Date, and (b) to the Property Trustee, as promptly as practicable after receipt by the Depositor of a request therefor from the Property Trustee in order to enable the Property Trustee to discharge its obligations under this Declaration of Trust, in each case to the extent such information is in the possession or control of the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor and is not identical to a previously supplied list or has not otherwise been received by the Property Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar. The rights of Securityholders to communicate with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Declaration of Trust or under the Trust Securities, and the corresponding rights of the Trustee shall be as provided in the Trust Indenture Act, except to the extent Section 3819 of the Delaware Business Trust Act would require greater access to such information, in which case the latter shall apply. Each Holder, by receiving and holding a Trust Securities Certificate, and each Owner shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold the Depositor, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and address, regardless of the source from which such information was derived.
SECTION 5.8. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Securities Registrar shall maintain in The City of New York an office or offices or agency or agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities Certificates may be served. The Securities Registrar initially designates [ , , ], Attention: Corporate Trust Services, as its principal corporate trust office for such purposes. The Securities Registrar shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor and to the Securityholders of any change in the location of the Securities Register or any such office or agency.
SECTION 5.9. Appointment of Paying Agent. In the event that the Preferred Securities are not in book-entry form only, the Trust shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency (the "Paying Agent") where the Preferred Securities may be presented for payment. The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Securityholders from the Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions to the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account for the purpose of making the Distributions referred to above. The Administrative Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent if such Trustees determine in their sole discretion that the Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its obligations under this Declaration of Trust in any material respect. The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee, and any co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee and acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor in their sole discretion. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Property Trustee and the Depositor. In the event that the Property Trustee shall no longer be the Paying Agent or a successor Paying Agent shall resign or its authority to act be revoked, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor that is reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee and the Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company). Each successor Paying Agent or any additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that, as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Securityholders in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to each Securityholder. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of Sections 8.1, 8.3 and 8.6 shall apply to the Property Trustee also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Property Trustee shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed hereunder. Any reference in this Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise.
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SECTION 5.10. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor. On the Closing Date, the Depositor shall acquire and retain beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, and except as provided in the following sentence, any attempted transfer of the Common Securities shall be void. Subject to this Article 5, the Depositor and any Related Party may only transfer Common Securities to the Depositor or a Related Party of the Depositor; provided that, any such transfer is subject to the condition precedent that the transferor obtain the written opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel experienced in such matters that such transfer would not cause more than an insubstantial risk that:
The Administrative Trustees shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY PERMITTED UNDER THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST OF BOISE CASCADE TRUST I.
SECTION 5.11. Global Securities; Non-Global Securities; Common Securities Certificate.
(a) Each Global Certificate authenticated under this Declaration of Trust [in addition to being issued in the form of one or more definitive, fully registered Preferred Securities Certificates registered initially in the books and records of the Trust in the name of [ ], as Purchase Contract Agent,] shall be registered in the name of the Clearing Agency designated by the Depositor for such Global Certificate or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Clearing Agency or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Certificate shall constitute a Preferred Security for all purposes of this Declaration of Trust.
(b) If a Global Certificate is to be exchanged for Certificated Preferred Securities or cancelled in whole, it shall be surrendered by or on behalf of the Clearing Agency, its nominee or custodian to the Property Trustee, as Securities Registrar, for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article 5. If any Global Certificate is to be exchanged for Certificated Preferred Securities or cancelled in part, or if another Preferred Security is to be exchanged in whole or in part for a beneficial interest in any Global Certificate, in each case, as provided in Section 5.4, then either (i) such Global Certificate shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article 5 or (ii) the Liquidation Amount thereof shall be reduced or increased by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged or cancelled, or equal to the principal amount of such Certificated Preferred Security to be so exchanged for a beneficial interest therein, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Property Trustee, as Securities Registrar, whereupon the Property Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, shall instruct the Clearing Agency or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender or adjustment of a Global Certificate, the Property Trustee shall, subject to Section 5.4 and as otherwise provided in this Article 5, authenticate and deliver any Preferred Securities issuable in exchange for such Global Certificate (or any portion thereof) to or upon the order of, and registered in such names as may be directed by, the Clearing Agency or its authorized representative.
Upon the request of the Property Trustee in connection with the occurrence of any of the events specified in the preceding paragraph, the Depositor shall cause as promptly as practicable to be made available to the Property Trustee a reasonable supply of Preferred Securities that are not in the form of Global Certificates. The Property Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon any order, direction or request of the Clearing Agency or its authorized representative which is given or made
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pursuant to this Article 5 if such order, direction or request is given or made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.
(c) Every Preferred Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Certificate or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Article 5 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Certificate, unless such Preferred Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Clearing Agency for such Global Certificate or a nominee thereof.
(d) The Clearing Agency or its nominee, as registered owner of a Global Certificate, shall be the holder of such Global Certificate for all purposes under the Declaration of Trust and the Preferred Securities, and owners of beneficial interests in a Global Certificate shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Accordingly, any such Owner's beneficial interest in a Global Certificate will be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Clearing Agency or its nominee or its participants and such owners of beneficial interests in a Global Certificate will not be considered the owners or holders of such Global Certificate for any purpose of this Declaration of Trust or the Preferred Securities.
(e) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common Securities Certificate.
SECTION 5.12. Notices to Clearing Agency. To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Owners is required under this Declaration of Trust, unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13, the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to Owners to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no obligations to provide notices directly to the Owners.
SECTION 5.13. Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Declaration of Trust, no Global Certificate may be exchanged in whole or in part for Preferred Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Certificate in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Clearing Agency for such Global Certificate or a nominee thereof unless (i) such Clearing Agency (A) has notified the Depositor that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Clearing Agency for such Global Certificate or (B) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered as such under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in either case the Trust and the Depositor thereupon fails to appoint a successor Clearing Agency, (ii) the Depositor, at its option, notifies the Property Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the Preferred Securities in certificated form, or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would be an Event of Default. In all cases, Certificated Preferred Securities delivered in exchange for any Global Certificate or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Clearing Agency (in accordance with its customary procedures).
SECTION 5.14. Rights of Securityholders. The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.9, and the Securityholders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Trust Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Declaration of Trust. The Trust Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights and, when issued and delivered to Securityholders against payment of the purchase price therefor, will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. The Holders of the Trust Securities, in their capacities as such, shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized
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under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Debentures, the Securities Guarantees and the terms of the Securities, the Depositor shall not be:
ARTICLE 6
ACT OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
SECTION 6.1. Limitations on Voting Rights.
(a) Except as provided in this Section, in Section 8.2 and 10.2 and in the Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the terms of the Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as to constitute the Securityholders from time to time as partners or members of an association.
(b) Subject to Section 8.2 hereof and the requirements set forth in this paragraph, the Holders of a majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities, voting separately as a class may direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the Declaration, including (i) directing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waiving any past default and its consequences that is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercising any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, or (iv) consenting to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required, provided, however, that, where a consent or action under the Indenture specifically would require the consent or act of the Holders of greater than a majority of the holders in principal amount of Debentures affected thereby (a "Super Majority"), the Property Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. The Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Preferred Securities. Other than with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting any remedy available to the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Property Trustee shall not take any action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the Preferred Securities under this paragraph unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action.
(c) Except as provided under this Section, Sections 8.9 and 10.2 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Common Securities will have no voting rights.
(d) Subject to Section 8.2 of the Declaration and only after any Event of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities has been cured, waived, or otherwise eliminated the Property Trustee shall not (i) direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debenture
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Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default and its consequences that is waivable under the Indenture, or (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, without in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of a majority in liquidation amount of Common Securities, provided that, where a consent under the Indenture specifically would require the consent of the Holders of a Super Majority, the Property Trustee may only give such consent at the written direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Common Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. Pursuant to this Section 6.1(d), the Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee Shall not take any of the foregoing actions under this paragraph unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Declaration, any Holder of Common Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, institute a legal proceeding directly against any Person to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the Declaration, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other Person.
Any approval or direction of the Holders of Common Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Common Securities convened for such purposes, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Administrative Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of Common Securities are entitled to vote to be mailed to each Holder of record of Common Securities, Each such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies.
(e) If any proposed amendment to the Declaration of Trust provides for, or the Trustees otherwise propose to effect the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust, then the Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities.
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Meetings. Notice of all meetings of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 10.8 to each Preferred Securityholder of record, at its registered address, at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
SECTION 6.3. Meetings of Preferred Securityholders. No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to be held. The Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of Securityholders to vote on any matter upon the written request of the Preferred Securityholders of record of 10% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) and the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of the Holders of Preferred Securities to vote on any matters as to which such Holders are entitled to vote.
Holders of record of 50% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount), present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of Securityholders.
If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the Holders of record of Preferred Securities present, in person or by proxy, holding more than a majority of the Preferred Securities
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(based upon their Liquidation Amount) held by Holders of record of Preferred Securities present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the Securityholders, unless this Declaration of Trust requires a greater number of affirmative votes.
SECTION 6.4. Voting Rights. Securityholders shall be entitled to one vote for each $50 of Liquidation Amount represented by their Trust Securities in respect of any matter as to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote. Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred Securities that are owned at such time by the Depositor, the Trustees or any affiliate of any Trustee shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if such Preferred Securities were not outstanding.
SECTION 6.5. Proxies, Etc. At any meeting of Securityholders, any Securityholders entitled to vote thereat may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in the name of the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property Trustee. Only Securityholders of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held jointly by several Persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or represented by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Securityholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No proxy shall be valid more than 11 months after its date of execution.
SECTION 6.6. Securityholder Action by Written Consent. Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if Securityholders holding more than a majority of all Outstanding Trust Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust) shall consent to the action in writing.
SECTION 6.7. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes. For the purposes of determining the Securityholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate in any Distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not otherwise provided for in this Declaration of Trust, or for the purpose of any other action, the Property Trustee may from time to time fix a date, not more than 60 days prior to the date of any meeting of Securityholders or the payment of Distributions or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the determination of the identity of the Securityholders of record for such purposes.
SECTION 6.8. Acts of Securityholders. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Declaration of Trust to be given, made or taken by Securityholders or Owners may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders or Owners in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to an Administrative Trustee. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Securityholders or Owners signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Declaration of Trust and (subject to Section 8.1) conclusive in favor of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such
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instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than the signer's individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of the signer's authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which any Trustee receiving the same deems sufficient.
The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder of every Trust Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such Liquidation Amount.
If any dispute shall arise between the Securityholders and the Administrative Trustees or among such Securityholders or Trustees with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Securityholder or Trustee under this Article 6, then the determination of such matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.
Upon the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default, the holders of Preferred Securities shall rely on the enforcement by the Property Trustee of its rights as holder of the Debentures against the Depositor. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures after a request therefor by a holder of Preferred Securities, such holder may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, proceed to enforce such rights directly against the Depositor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Depositor to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable, then a holder of Preferred Securities shall have the right to institute a proceeding directly against the Depositor, for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal amount of or interest on Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder after the respective due date specified in the Debentures (a "Direct Action"). [In connection with such Direct Action, the rights of the holders of Common Securities will be subordinate to the rights of such holder of Preferred Securities.] In connection with any such Direct Action, the rights of the Depositor will be subrogated to the rights of any holder of the Preferred Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Depositor to such holder of Preferred Securities as a result of such Direct Action.
A Securityholder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Depositor under the Guarantee to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee (as defined in the Guarantee), the Trust or any Person or entity.
SECTION 6.9. Inspection of Records. Upon reasonable notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Securityholders during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Securityholder's interest as a Securityholder.
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 7.1. Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee. The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on behalf of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Depositor and the Securityholders that (each such representation and warranty made by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee being made only with respect to itself):
(a) the Property Trustee is a national banking association duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the United States;
(b) the Delaware Trustee is a banking corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;
(c) each of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Declaration of Trust and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Declaration of Trust;
(d) this Declaration of Trust has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Property Trustee and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of the Property Trustee enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
(e) this Declaration of Trust has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee under Delaware law (excluding tax and securities laws) and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of the Delaware trustee enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
(f) the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of this Declaration of Trust have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of the Property Trustee and do not require any approval of stockholders of the Property Trustee and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Property Trustee's charter or by-laws, (ii) violate any provision of, or constitute, with or without notice or lapse of time, a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any properties included in the Trust Property pursuant to the provisions of, any indenture, mortgage, credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Property Trustee is a party or by which it is bound, or (iii) to the Property Trustee's knowledge violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States or the State of New York as the case may be, governing the banking, corporate, or trust powers of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee (as appropriate in context) or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee;
(g) the execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration of Trust have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of the Delaware Trustee and do not require any approval of stockholders of the Delaware Trustee and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Delaware Trustee's charter or by-laws, (ii) violate any provision of, or constitute, with or without notice or lapse of time, a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any properties included in the Trust Property pursuant to the provisions of, any indenture, mortgage, credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Delaware Trustee is a party or by which it is bound, or
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(iii) to the Delaware Trustee's knowledge violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States or the State of Delaware as the case may be;
(h) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Property Trustee of this Declaration of Trust nor the consummation of any of the transactions by the Property Trustee contemplated herein or therein to its knowledge requires the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to, any governmental authority or agency under any existing federal law governing the banking, corporate or trust powers of the Property Trustee under the laws of the United States or the State of New York (excluding any securities laws of any jurisdiction);
(i) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration of Trust nor the consummation of any of the transactions by the Delaware Trustee contemplated herein or therein to its knowledge requires the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to, any governmental authority or agency under any existing federal law governing the banking, corporate or trust powers of the Delaware Trustee under the laws of the United States or the State of Delaware (excluding any securities laws of any jurisdiction);
(j) there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of each of the Property Trustee's and the Delaware Trustee's knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee in any court or before any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal which, individually or in the aggregate, would materially and adversely affect the Trust or would question the right, power and authority of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, to enter into or perform its obligations as one of the Trustees under this Declaration of Trust.
SECTION 7.2. Representations and Warranties of Depositor. The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Securityholders that:
(a) the Trust Securities Certificates issued on the Closing Date on behalf of the Trust have been duly authorized and will have been duly and validly executed, issued and delivered by the Trustees pursuant to the terms and provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Declaration of Trust and the Securityholders will be, as of such date, entitled to the benefits of this Declaration of Trust; and
(b) there are no taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by the Trust (or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust) under the laws of the state of Delaware or any political subdivision thereof in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, of this Declaration of Trust.
ARTICLE 8
THE TRUSTEES
SECTION 8.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as provided by this Declaration of Trust and, in the case of the Property Trustee, by the Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Declaration of Trust and the Trust Indenture Act and no implied covenants shall be read into this Declaration of Trust against the Property Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 8.2) of which a responsible officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge, the Property Trustee
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shall exercise such rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration of Trust and the Trust Indenture Act, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent individual would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Declaration of Trust shall require the Trustees to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers, if they shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Declaration of Trust relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to release the Administrative Trustees or the Delaware Trustee from liability for their own grossly negligent action, their own grossly negligent failure to act, or their own willful misconduct. To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Administrative Trustee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to the Securityholders, such Administrative Trustee shall not be liable to the Trust or to any Securityholder for such Administrative Trustee's good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration of Trust or advice of counsel. The provisions of this Declaration of Trust, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Administrative Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Depositor and the Securityholders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Administrative Trustees.
(b) All payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Securityholder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust Security. This Section 8.1(b) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Declaration of Trust or, in the case of the Property Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) No provision of this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to relieve the Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of the Property Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Property Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Declaration of Trust;
(iii) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the Payment Account shall be to deal with such property as fiduciary assets, subject to the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Property Trustee under this Declaration of Trust and the Trust Indenture Act;
(iv) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree with the Depositor and money held by the Property Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the Payment Account
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maintained by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1 and except to the extent otherwise required by law; and
(v) neither the Property Trustee nor the Administrative Trustees shall be responsible for monitoring each other's compliance or the compliance of the Depositor with their respective duties under this Declaration of Trust, nor shall the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees be liable for each other's default or misconduct or that of the Depositor.
SECTION 8.2. Notice of Defaults.
(a) Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Event of Default actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of such Event of Default to the holders of Preferred Securities, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived, provided that, except for a default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of the Debentures, the Property Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as [the Board of Directors,] the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or responsible officers of the Property Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
(b) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
(c) The Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Preferred Securities, waive any Event of Default in respect of the Preferred Securities and its consequences, provided that, if the underlying Debenture Event of Default:
(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, the Event of Default under the Declaration of Trust shall also not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of greater than a majority in principal amount of the holders of the Debentures (a "Super Majority") to be waived under the Indenture, the Event of Default under the Declaration of Trust may only be waived by the vote of the Holders of the same proportion in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities that the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding.
The provisions of Section 6.1(b) and this Section 8.2(c) shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration of Trust and the Preferred Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Upon such waiver, any such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Declaration of Trust, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or an Event of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities or impair any right consequent thereon. Any waiver by the Holders of the Preferred Securities of an Event of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities shall also be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Holders of the Common Securities of any such Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities for all purposes of this Declaration of Trust without any further act, vote, or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities.
(d) The Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Common Securities, waive any Event of Default with
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respect to the Common Securities and its consequences, provided that, if the underlying Debenture Event of Default:
(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, except where the Holders of the Common Securities are deemed to have waived such Event of Default under the Declaration as provided below in this Section 8.2(d), the Event of Default under the Declaration of Trust shall also not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of a Super Majority to be waived, except where the Holders of the Common Securities are deemed to have waived such Event of Default under the Declaration of Trust as provided below in this Section 8.2(d), the Event of Default under the Declaration of Trust may only be waived by the vote of the Holders of the same proportion in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities that the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding;
provided further, that each Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any such Event of Default and all Events of Default with respect to the Common Securities and its consequences until all Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, and until such Events of Default have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee will be deemed to be acting solely on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and only the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Securities. The provisions of Section 6.1(b) and this Section 8.2(d) shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration of Trust and the Preferred Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(d), upon such waiver, any such default shall cease to exist and any Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Declaration of Trust, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities or impair any right consequent thereon.
(e) A waiver of a Debenture Event of Default under the Indenture by the Property Trustee at the direction of the Holders of the Preferred Securities constitutes a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default under this Declaration of Trust. The foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(e) shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration of Trust and the Preferred Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.
(f) The Holders of a majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee, including the right to direct the Property Trustee to exercise the remedies available to it as holder of the Debentures; provided, however, that the Property Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Property Trustee shall determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction or if the Property Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Property Trustee, in good faith, by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or responsible officers, shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Property Trustee in personal liability. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Debentures after the Holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities have so directed the Property Trustee, a holder of record of such Preferred Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, institute a legal proceeding against the Depositor to enforce the Property
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Trustee's rights under the Debentures without first instituting first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other Person.
SECTION 8.3. Certain Rights of Property Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.1:
(a) the Property Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and, (i) in performing its duties under this Declaration of Trust the Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action or (ii) in construing any of the provisions in this Declaration of Trust the Property Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein or (iii) the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Declaration of Trust, then, except as to any matter as to which the Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote under the terms of this Declaration of Trust, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Depositor requesting written instructions of the Depositor as to the course of action to be taken and the Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided, however, that if the Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within ten Business Days after it has delivered such notice, or such reasonably shorter period of time set forth in such notice (which to the extent practicable shall not be less than two Business Days), it may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such action not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust as it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the Securityholders, in which event the Property Trustee shall have no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct;
(c) any direction or act of the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees contemplated by this Declaration of Trust shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;
(d) whenever in the administration of this Declaration of Trust, the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be established before undertaking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely upon an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees;
(e) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to accomplish any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof;
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(f) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection (which counsel may be counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees) and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon and in accordance with such advice; and the Property Trustee shall have the right at any time, upon prior notice to the Depositor, to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Declaration of Trust from any court of competent jurisdiction;
(g) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration of Trust at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Declaration of Trust, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(h) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolutions, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, [unless requested in writing to do so by Holders of record of 25% or more of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount)], but the Property Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;
(i) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys or an Affiliate, provided that the Property Trustee shall be responsible for its own negligence, recklessness or bad faith with respect to selection of any agent or attorney appointed by it hereunder;
(j) whenever in the administration of this Declaration of Trust the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Property Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Trust Securities, which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities as would be entitled to direct the Property Trustee under the terms of the Trust Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions; and
(k) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Declaration of Trust, the Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration of Trust.
No provision of this Declaration of Trust shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Property Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 8.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates shall not be taken as the statements of the Trustees, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the Debentures.
SECTION 8.5. May Hold Securities. Except as provided in the definition of the term "Outstanding" in Article 1, any Trustee or any other agent of any Trustee or the Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and, subject to Section 8.8
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and 8.12, may otherwise deal with the Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or such other agent.
SECTION 8.6. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees. The Depositor agrees:
(a) to pay the Trustees from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder as the parties shall agree from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Declaration of Trust (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its gross negligence (or, in the case of the Property Trustee, ordinary negligence), willful misconduct or bad faith;
(c) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Trustee, (ii) any Affiliate of any Trustee, (iii) any officer, director, shareholder, employee, representative or agent of any Trustee, and (iv) any employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates (referred to herein as an "Indemnified Person") from and against any loss, damage, liability, tax, penalty, expense or claim of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of the creation, operation or termination of the Trust or any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration of Trust, except that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of gross negligence (or, in the case of the Property Trustee, ordinary negligence), willful misconduct or bad faith with respect to such acts or omissions; and
(d) no Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any Trust Property as a result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.6.
SECTION 8.7. Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of Trustees.
(a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Property Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
(b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative Trustee shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind that entity.
(c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee shall be either (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and that otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity.
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SECTION 8.8. Conflicting Interests. If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Declaration of Trust. [The Property Trustee's services as Trustee under the Guarantee and as Debenture Trustee shall not be deemed to constitute a conflicting interest.]
SECTION 8.9. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) Subject to Sections 8.9(b) and 8.9(c), any Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee") may be appointed or removed without cause at any time:
(i) until the issuance of any Trust Securities, by written instrument executed by the Depositor; and
(ii) after the issuance of any Securities, by vote of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities voting as a class.
(b) The Trustee that acts as Property Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 8.9(a) until a successor possessing the qualifications to act as a Property Trustee under Section 8.7 (a "Successor Property Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such Successor Property Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Depositor and the removed Property Trustee.
(c) The Trustee that acts as Delaware Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 8.9(a) until a successor possessing the qualifications to act as Delaware Trustee under Section 8.7 (a "Successor Delaware Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Depositor and the removed Delaware Trustee.
(d) A Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until his, her or its successor shall have been appointed or until his, her or its death, removal, resignation, dissolution or liquidation. Any Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by the Trustee and delivered to the Depositor and the Trust, which resignation shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein; provided, however, that:
(i) No such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Property Trustee shall be effective:
(1) until a Successor Property Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such Successor Property Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Sponsor and the resigning Property Trustee; or
(2) until the assets of the Trust have been completely liquidated and the proceeds thereof distributed to the holders of the Securities; and
(ii) no such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Delaware Trustee shall be effective until a Successor Delaware Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Depositor and the resigning Delaware Trustee.
(e) The Holders of the Common Securities shall use their best efforts promptly to appoint a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, if the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee delivers an instrument of resignation in accordance with Section 8.9(d).
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(f) If no Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 8.9 within 60 days after delivery pursuant to this Section 8.9 of an instrument of resignation or removal, the Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee resigning or being removed, as applicable, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.
(g) No Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.
(h) The Property Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Securityholders in the manner provided in Section 10.8 and shall give notice to the Depositor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property Trustee.
(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Depositor, incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by (a) the unanimous act of the remaining Administrative Trustees if there are at least two of them or (b) otherwise by the Depositor (with the successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrative Trustees or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, set forth in Section 8.7).
(j) The indemnity provided to a Trustee under Section 8.6 shall survive any Trustee's resignation or removal.
SECTION 8.10. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee, such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Trust and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Depositor or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and if the Property Trustee is the resigning Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to the successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Property Trustee hereunder.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee and upon the execution and delivery of such amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on request of the Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder.
Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Trust shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee
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all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.
No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
SECTION 8.11. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of such Relevant Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
SECTION 8.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust. If and when the Property Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Depositor or the Trust (or any other obligor upon the Debentures or the Trust Securities), the Property Trustee shall be subject to and shall take all actions necessary in order to comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or Trust (or any such other obligor).
SECTION 8.13. Reports by Property Trustee.
(a) To the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act, within 60 days after December 31 of each year commencing with December 31, 2001, the Property Trustee shall transmit to all Securityholders in accordance with Section 10.8 and to the Depositor, a brief report dated as of such December 31 with respect to:
(i) its eligibility under Section 8.7 or, in lieu thereof, if to the best of its knowledge it has continued to be eligible under said Section, a written statement to such effect;
(ii) a statement that the Property Trustee has complied with all of its obligations under this Declaration of Trust during the twelve-month period (or, in the case of the initial report, the period since the Closing Date) ending with such December 31 or, if the Property Trustee has not complied in any material respects with such obligations, a description of such noncompliance; and
(iii) any change in the property and funds in its possession as Property Trustee since the date of its last report and any action taken by the Property Trustee in the performance of its duties hereunder which it has not previously reported and which in its opinion materially affects the Trust Securities.
(b) In addition, the Property Trustee shall transmit to Securityholders such reports concerning the Property Trustee and its actions under this Declaration of Trust as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.
(c) A copy of such report shall, at the time of such transmissions to Holders, be filed by the Property Trustee with each national securities exchange or self-regulatory organization upon which the Trust Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Depositor.
SECTION 8.14. Reports to the Property Trustee. The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and the compliance certificate required by Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 8.15. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Declaration of Trust that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 8.16. Number of Trustees.
(a) The number of Trustees shall be [four], provided that the Holder of all of the Common Securities by written instrument may increase or decrease the number of Administrative Trustees. The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be the same Person.
(b) If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of Administrative Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 8.16(a), or if the number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 8.16(a), a vacancy shall occur.
(c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with Section 8.9, the Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement), shall have all the powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Declaration of Trust.
SECTION 8.17. Delegation of Power.
(a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 2.7(a), including any registration statement or amendment thereof filed with the Commission, or making any other governmental filing.
(b) The Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number or to the Depositor the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein.
SECTION 8.18. Appointment of Administrative Trustees.
(a) The Administrative Trustees shall initially be , an individual, and , an individual, and their successors shall be appointed by the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities, and they may resign or be removed by the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities at any time. Upon any resignation or removal, the Depositor shall appoint a successor Administrative Trustee. If at any time there is no Administrative Trustee, the Property Trustee or any Holder who has been a Holder of Trust Securities for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of one or more Administrative Trustees.
(b) Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with this Section 8.18, the Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number (and not withstanding any other provision of this Agreement), shall have all the powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Declaration of Trust.
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(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, if any Administrative Trustee who is a natural person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount the Common Securities, incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by the unanimous act of the remaining Administrative Trustees, if there were at least two of them prior to such vacancy, and by the Depositor, if there were not two such Administrative Trustees immediately prior to such vacancy (with the successor being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 8.7).
ARTICLE 9
TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
SECTION 9.1. Termination upon Expiration Date. Unless earlier terminated, the Trust shall automatically terminate on , (the "Expiration Date"), following the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with Section 9.4.
SECTION 9.2. Early Termination. The first to occur of any of the following events is an "Early Termination Event":
(a) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of, or the dissolution or liquidation of, the Depositor;
(b) the occurrence of a Tax Event following which the Depositor has elected to redeem all of the Preferred Securities pursuant to Section 4.4(a);
(c) the exchange of all of the Trust Securities;
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(d) upon the repayment of the Debentures or at such time as no Debentures are outstanding;
(e) an order for dissolution of the Trust shall have been entered by a court of competent jurisdiction; and
(f) receipt by the Property Trustee of written notice from the Depositor at any time (which notice is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Depositor) of its intention to terminate the Trust and distribute the Debentures in exchange for the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 9.3. Termination. The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Trust created and continued hereby shall terminate upon the latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee to Securityholders upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4, of all amounts required to be distributed hereunder upon the final payment of the Trust Securities; (b) the payment of all expenses owed by the Trust; (c) the discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or the Securityholders, and (d) the filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 3810 of the Delaware Business Trust Act. Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, each of Depositor's obligations set forth in Section 8.3 hereof shall survive and continue regardless of the occurrence of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 9.4. Liquidation.
(a) If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (a), [(b),] (e) or (f) of Section 9.2 occurs or upon the Expiration Date, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee as expeditiously as the Trustees determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to each Securityholder an aggregate principal amount of Debentures equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities held by such Holder, subject to Section 9.4(d). Notice of liquidation shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not later than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder's address as it appears in the Securities Register. All notices of liquidation shall:
(b) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, in order to effect the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Debentures to Securityholders, the Property Trustee shall establish a record date for such distribution (which shall be not more than 45 days prior to the Liquidation Date) and, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate to effect the distribution of Debentures in exchange for the Outstanding Trust Securities Certificates.
(c) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, after the Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, (ii) the Clearing Agency or its nominee, as the record holder of such Trust Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates representing the Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution, and (iii) any Trust Securities Certificates not held by the Clearing Agency will be deemed to represent an aggregate principal
39
amount of Debentures equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities held by such Holders, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on such Trust Securities until such certificates are presented to the Property Trustee for transfer or reissuance.
(d) In the event that, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 9.4, whether because of an order for dissolution entered by a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise, distribution of the Debentures in the manner provided herein is determined by the Property Trustee not to be practicable, the Trust Property shall be liquidated, and the Trust shall be dissolved, wound-up or terminated, by the Property Trustee in such manner as the Property Trustee determines in good faith. In such event, on the date of the dissolution, winding up or other termination of the Trust, Securityholders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Securityholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If, upon any such dissolution, winding-up or termination, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holder of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such dissolution, winding-up or termination pro rata (determined as aforesaid) with Holders of Preferred Securities, except that, if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities.
(e) Upon the redemption of the Debentures in whole (but not in part), at maturity, the proceeds from such redemption shall, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, be simultaneously applied to redeem Securities having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures so redeemed at a redemption price of $50 per Security plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon at the date of the repayment, payable in cash.
SECTION 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations, Conversions or Replacements of the Trust. The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, convert into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other Person, except pursuant to this Section 9.5. At the request of the Depositor, with the consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the Holders of the Preferred Securities, the Trust may merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, convert into, be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Preferred Securities or (b) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred Securities rank in priority with respect to Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Depositor expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity, possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee, as the holder of the Debentures, (iii) the Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, if any, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not
40
adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease the Depositor has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of the Holder's interest in the new entity), (b) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an "investment company" under the 1940 Act, and (c) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion or replacement, the Trust or such successor entity will be treated as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, and (viii) the Depositor or any permitted successor or assignee owns all of the Common Securities of such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, convert into, merge with or into, be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, convert into, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE 10
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 10.1. Limitation of Rights of Securityholders. The death or incapacity of any person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall not operate to terminate this Declaration of Trust, nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such person or any Securityholder for such person to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in any court for a partition or winding-up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them.
SECTION 10.2. Amendment.
(a) This Declaration of Trust may be amended from time to time by the Trustees and the Depositor, without the consent of any Securityholders, (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Declaration of Trust, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Declaration of Trust to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any Trust Securities are Outstanding or to ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an "investment company" under the 1940 Act, or be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) to maintain the qualification of this Declaration of Trust under the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of clause (i), such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Securityholder, and any amendments of this Declaration of Trust shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the Securityholders.
(b) Except as provided in Section 10.2(c) hereof, any provision of this Declaration of Trust may be amended by the Trustees and the Depositor with (i) the consent of Holders representing not less than a majority (based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the Trust Securities then
41
Outstanding, acting as a single class, and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or the Trust's not being required to register as an "investment company" under the 1940 Act, provided, however, if any amendment or proposal that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Trust Securities, whether by way of amendment or otherwise, would adversely affect only the Preferred Securities or only the Common Securities, then only the affected class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of a majority in Liquidation Amount of such class of Trust Securities.
(c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Declaration of Trust, without the consent of each affected Securityholder (such consent being obtained in accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.6 hereof), this Declaration of Trust may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date or (ii) restrict the right of a Securityholder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date; notwithstanding any other provision herein, without the unanimous consent of the Securityholders (such consent being obtained in accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.6 hereof), this paragraph (c) of this Section 10.2 may not be amended.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, no Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Declaration of Trust which would cause the Trust to be required to register as an "investment company" under the 1940 Act, or to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or to reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Property Trustee.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Declaration of Trust to the contrary, without the consent of the Depositor, this Declaration of Trust may not be amended in a manner which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor.
(f) In the event that any amendment to this Declaration of Trust is made, the Administrative Trustees shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy of such amendment.
(g) Neither the Property Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be required to enter into any amendment to this Declaration of Trust which affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Declaration of Trust.
(h) The Property Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers' Certificate stating that any amendment to this Declaration of Trust is in compliance with this Declaration of Trust.
SECTION 10.3. Separability. In case any provision in this Declaration of Trust or in the Trust Securities Certificates 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 10.4. Governing Law. This declaration of trust and the rights and obligations of each of the securityholders, the trust, and trustees with respect to this declaration of trust in the trust securities shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the state of Delaware.
SECTION 10.5. Payments Due on Non-Business Day. If the date fixed for any payment on any Trust Security shall be a day which is not a Business Day, then such payment need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (except as otherwise provided in Section 4.1(a) and Section 4.2(d)), with the same force and effect as though made on the date fixed for such payment, and no interest shall accrue thereon for the period after such date.
42
SECTION 10.6. Successors. This Declaration of Trust shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Trust or the Relevant Trustee, including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Depositor that is permitted under Article 8 of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Depositor's obligations hereunder, the Depositor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 10.7. Headings. The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Declaration of Trust.
SECTION 10.8. Reports, Notices and Demands. Any report, notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Declaration of Trust is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon any Securityholder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (a) in the case of a Holder of Preferred Securities, to such Holder as such Holder's name and address may appear on the Securities Register; and (b) in the case of the Holder of the Common Securities, to Boise Cascade Corporation, 1111 West Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 50, Boise, Idaho 83728-0001, Attention: General Counsel.
Any notice to Preferred Securityholders shall also be given to such Owners as have, within two years preceding the giving of such notice, filed their names and addresses with the Property Trustee for that purpose. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given, or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or transmission.
Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Declaration of Trust is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the Administrative Trustees shall be given in writing addressed (until another address is published by the Trust) as follows: (a) with respect to the Property Trustee, to , , , Attention: Corporate Trust Services, (b) with respect to the Delaware Trustee, to , , , Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, with a copy of any such notice to the Property Trustee at its address above, and (c) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address for notices to the Depositor, marked "Attention: General Counsel." Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Trust or the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Trust or the Property Trustee.
SECTION 10.9. Agreement Not to Petition. Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agrees for the benefit of the Securityholders that, until at least one year and one day after the Trust has been terminated in accordance with Article 9, it shall not file, or join in the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law (including, without limitation, the United States Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law. In the event the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 10.9, the Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Securityholders, that, at the expense of the Depositor, it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be stopped and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Trustee or the Trust may assert. The provisions of this Section 10.9 shall survive the termination of this Declaration of Trust.
SECTION 10.10. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
(a) This Declaration of Trust is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Declaration of Trust and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
43
(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is the trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Declaration of Trust by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. If any provision of this Declaration of Trust modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Declaration of Trust as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Declaration of Trust shall not affect the nature of the Trust Securities as equity securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
SECTION 10.11. Acceptance of Terms of Declaration of Trust, Guarantee and Indenture. The receipt and acceptance of a Trust Security or any interest therein by or on behalf of a securityholder or beneficial owner, without any signature or further manifestation of assent, shall constitute the unconditional acceptance by the securityholder and all others having a beneficial interest in such Trust Security of all the terms and provisions of this Declaration of Trust and the terms of the Guarantee and the Indenture, and shall constitute the agreement of the Trust, such securityholder and such others that the terms and provisions of this Declaration of Trust shall be binding, operative and effective as to the Trust and such securityholder and such others.
SECTION 10.12. Counterparts. This Declaration of Trust may contain more than one counterpart of the signature page and this Declaration of Trust may be executed by the affixing of the signature of each of the Trustees to one of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page.
SECTION 10.13. Purchases of Trust Securities. Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities law), the Depositor or its subsidiaries or Affiliates may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
44
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION, as Depositor |
||||
By: |
||||
Name: Title: |
||||
BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY, as Property Trustee |
||||
By: |
||||
Name: Title: |
||||
THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE), as Delaware Trustee |
||||
By: |
||||
Name: Title: |
||||
[ ], as Administrative Trustee |
||||
[ ], as Administrative Trustee |
45
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
BOISE CASCADE TRUST I
THIS Certificate of Trust of Boise Cascade Trust I (the "Trust") is being duly executed and filed by Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware business corporation, and John W. Holleran, as trustees, to form a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 DEL. C. Section 3801 ET SEQ.).
1. NAME. The name of the business trust formed hereby is Boise Cascade Trust I.
2. DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The name and business address of the trustee of the Trust in the state of Delaware is Wilmington Trust Company, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon filing.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being all of the initial trustees of the Trust, have executed this Certificate.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY | ||||
By: |
||||
Name: Title: |
||||
Name: John W. Holleran |
46
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE
DEPOSITARY AGREEMENT
47
EXHIBIT C
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE
Certificate Number | Number of Common Securities | |
Certificate
Evidencing Common Securities
of
Boise Cascade Trust I
Common Securities
(liquidation amount $50 per Common Security)
Boise Cascade Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the state of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Boise Cascade Corporation (the "Holder") is the registered owner of common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the "Common Securities"). In accordance with Section 5.10 of the Declaration of Trust (as defined below), the Common Securities are not transferable and any attempted transfer hereof shall be void. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of , 2001, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration of Trust") including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth therein. [The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Common Securities Guarantee Agreement entered into by the Holder and , as Guarantee Trustee, dated as of , 2001 (the "Guarantee"), to the extent provided therein.] The Trust will furnish a copy of the Declaration of Trust and the Guarantee to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration of Trust and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has executed this certificate this day of , 2001.
BOISE CASCADE TRUST I | |||
By: |
|||
Name: As Administrative Trustee |
48
PROPERTY TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Common Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration of Trust.
Dated: , 2001.
[ | ], | ||
as Administrative Trustee |
|||
By: |
Authorized Signatory |
49
THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS A BOOK-ENTRY PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION OF TRUST HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY ("DTC") OR A NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR PREFERRED SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNLESS THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK), TO BOISE CASCADE TRUST I OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY PREFERRED SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
50
Certificate Number | Number of Preferred Securities | |
CUSIP No.
$
Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
Boise Cascade Trust I
% Preferred Securities
(liquidation amount $50 per Preferred Security)
Boise Cascade Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the state of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that (the "Holder") is the registered owner of preferred securities of the Trust representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust and designated the Boise Cascade Trust I % Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $50 per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred Securities"). The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as provided in Section 5.4 of the Declaration of Trust (as defined below). The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of , 2001, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration of Trust") including the designation of the terms of Preferred Securities as set forth therein. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee Agreement entered into by Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and , as Guarantee Trustee, dated as of , 2001 (the "Guarantee"), to the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Declaration of Trust and the Guarantee to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office. Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration of Trust and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has executed this certificate this day of , 2001.
BOISE CASCADE TRUST I | ||||
By: |
||||
Name: An Administrative Trustee |
51
PROPERTY TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Preferred Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration of Trust.
Dated: , 2001.
[ ],
as Property Trustee |
||||
By: |
||||
Authorized Signatory |
52
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred Security to:
|
||||
|
||||
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) |
||||
|
||||
(Insert address and zip code of assignee) |
||||
and irrevocably appoints |
||||
|
||||
|
agent to transfer this Preferred Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date: | |
|||
Signature: |
||||
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Security Certificate) |
||||
Signature Guarantee: |
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Securities Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Securities Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
53
[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL CERTIFICATE]
The initial liquidation amount of this Global Certificate shall be $ . The following increases or decreases in the liquidation amount of this Global Certificate have been made:
Date Made |
Amount of increase in Liquidation Amount of this Global Certificate including upon exercise of over allotment option |
Amount of decrease in Liquidation Amount of this Global Certificate |
Liquidation Amount of this Global Certificate following such decrease or increase |
Signature of authorized officer of Trustee or Securities Custodian |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
54
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
between
BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION
and
BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY
Relating to the Preferred Securities of
Boise Cascade Trust I
Dated as of [ ], 2001
Section of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended |
Section of Guarantee Agreement |
||
---|---|---|---|
ss. 310 | (a) | 4.1(a) | |
(b) | 4.1(c), 2.8 | ||
(c) | Not Applicable | ||
ss. 311 |
(a) |
2.2(b) |
|
(b) | 2.2(b) | ||
(c) | Not Applicable | ||
ss. 312 |
(a) |
2.2(a) |
|
(b) | 2.2(b) | ||
ss. 313 |
2.3 |
||
ss. 314 |
(a) |
2.4 |
|
(b) | Not Applicable | ||
(c) | 2.5 | ||
(d) | Not Applicable | ||
(e) | 1.1, 2.5, 3.2 | ||
(f) | 3.2 | ||
ss. 315 |
(a) |
3.1(d) |
|
(b) | 2.7 | ||
(c) | 3.1 | ||
(d) | 3.1(d) | ||
ss. 316 |
(a) |
1.1, 2.6, 5.4 |
|
(b) | 5.3 | ||
ss. 317 |
(a) |
Not Applicable |
|
(b) | Not Applicable | ||
ss. 318 |
(a) |
2.1(b) |
|
(b) | 2.1 | ||
(c) | 2.1(a) |
|
|
Page |
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---|---|---|---|---|
ARTICLE 1 | DEFINITIONS | 1 | ||
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 1 | ||
ARTICLE 2 |
TRUST INDENTURE ACT |
3 |
||
Section 2.0 | Trust Indenture Act; Application | 3 | ||
Section 2.1 | List of Holders | 3 | ||
Section 2.2 | Reports by the Guarantee Trustee | 4 | ||
Section 2.3 | Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee | 4 | ||
Section 2.4 | Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent | 4 | ||
Section 2.5 | Events of Default; Waiver | 4 | ||
Section 2.6 | Event of Default; Notice | 4 | ||
Section 2.7 | Conflicting Interests | 4 | ||
ARTICLE 3 |
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE |
5 |
||
Section 3.1 | Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee | 5 | ||
Section 3.2 | Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee | 6 | ||
Section 3.3 | Indemnity | 7 | ||
ARTICLE 4 |
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE |
7 |
||
Section 4.1 | Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility | 7 | ||
Section 4.2 | Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee | 8 | ||
ARTICLE 5 |
GUARANTEE |
8 |
||
Section 5.1 | Guarantee | 8 | ||
Section 5.2 | Waiver of Notice and Demand | 8 | ||
Section 5.3 | Obligations Not Affected | 9 | ||
Section 5.4 | Rights of Holders | 9 | ||
Section 5.5 | Guarantee of Payment | 9 | ||
Section 5.6 | Subrogation | 10 | ||
Section 5.7 | Independent Obligations | 10 | ||
ARTICLE 6 |
COVENANTS |
10 |
||
Section 6.1 | Certain Covenants of Guarantor | 10 | ||
ARTICLE 7 |
TERMINATION |
10 |
||
Section 7.1 | Termination | 10 | ||
ARTICLE 8 |
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED] |
10 |
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ARTICLE 9 |
MISCELLANEOUS |
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Section 9.1 | Successors and Assigns | 11 | ||
Section 9.2 | Amendments | 11 | ||
Section 9.3 | Notices | 11 | ||
Section 9.4 | Benefit | 12 | ||
Section 9.5 | Interpretation | 12 | ||
Section 9.6 | Governing Law | 12 |
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This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of , 2001, is executed and delivered by Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor") and BNY Western Trust Company, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of Boise Cascade Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration of Trust"), dated as of , 2001, among the Trustees named therein, the Guarantor, as Depositor, and the Holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing of its % Preferred Securities (liquidation preference $50 per preferred security) (the "Preferred Securities") representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth in the Declaration of Trust;
WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Issuer and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer's Common Securities (as defined below), will be used to purchase the Debentures (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) of the Guarantor which will be deposited with BNY Western Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the Declaration of Trust, as trust assets;
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase Preferred Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities.
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings. Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Declaration of Trust as in effect on the date hereof.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct common control with such specified Person, provided, however, that an Affiliate of the Guarantor shall not be deemed to include the Issuer. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value $2.50, per share, of the Guarantor.
"Debt" means, with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers'
acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person; (iv) every purchase money obligation and every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business), all conditional sale obligations of the Guarantor and all obligations of the Guarantor under any title retention agreements; (v) every obligation of such Person under currency hedging arrangements, interest rate protection agreements and other similar arrangements; (vi) every capital lease obligation of such Person, and (vii) every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of another Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible for or liable for, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise, including, without limitation, obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire, or to assure a creditor against loss in respect of, any such indebtedness or obligation, and any such indebtedness or obligation secured by a lien on any asset of the Guarantor, whether or not such indebtedness or obligation is assumed by the Guarantor.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that, except with respect to a default in payment of any Guarantee Payments, no Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred under this Guarantee Agreement unless and until the Guarantor shall have received written notice of default and shall not have cured such default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) required to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent the Issuer shall have received funds with respect to the Debentures, and (ii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer, unless Debentures are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation preference of $50 per Preferred Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand available to make such payment and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means BNY Western Trust Company, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer, of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated December , 2001, between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as trustee, to the Indenture dated as of October 1, 1985 between the Guarantor and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as the same may be supplemented and amended from time to time.
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).
"Majority in Liquidation Preference of the Securities" means, except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by the Holder(s), voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the liquidation preference of all the outstanding Preferred Securities issued by the Issuer.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by (i) the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President, and by (ii) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person, and delivered to the Guarantee
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Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, any First Vice President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Trust Officer or Assistant Trust Officer or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Services Division of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
ARTICLE 2
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.0. TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Guarantee Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 2.1. LIST OF HOLDERS.
(a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee (unless the Guarantee Trustee is acting as Securities Registrar with respect to the Debentures under the Indenture) (i) semi-annually, on or before and of each year, a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the delivery thereof, and (ii) at such other times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, in each case to the extent such information is in the possession or control of the Guarantor and is not identical to a previously supplied list of Holders or has not otherwise been received by the Guarantee Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Guarantor
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shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the Preferred Securities are represented by one or more Global Certificates (as defined in the Indenture). The Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under Section 311(a), Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.2. REPORTS BY THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. On or before , of each calendar year, the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3. PERIODIC REPORTS TO GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Holders such documents, reports and information, if any, as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4. EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.5. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER. The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Preference of the Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent therefrom.
SECTION 2.6. EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE.
(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders, notices of all Events of Default known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee Payment, the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Board of Directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice, or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of the Declaration of Trust shall have obtained written notice, of such Event of Default.
SECTION 2.7. CONFLICTING INTERESTS. The Declaration of Trust and the Indenture shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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ARTICLE 3
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(iv) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, upon acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment hereunder, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to the Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) and is actually known to the Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred;
(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee Agreement, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof or of the Trust Indenture Act are specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement;
(ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
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(iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Preference of the Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.2. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Guarantee Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, proxy, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate unless otherwise prescribed herein.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request from the Guarantee Trustee, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal counsel, and the advice or opinion of such legal counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such legal counsel may be legal counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may be one of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(v) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such adequate security and indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(v) shall be taken to relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement and use the same degree of care and skill in the exercise thereof as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
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(vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(vii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys or any Affiliate, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(viii) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Preference of the Securities, (B) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (C) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty to act in accordance with such power and authority.
SECTION 3.3. INDEMNITY. The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any lien or charge on any Guarantee Payment as a result of any amount due to it under this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE 4
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.
(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and shall be a corporation meeting the requirements of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
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(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Declaration of Trust and the Indenture shall not be deemed to constitute conflicting interests of the Guarantee Trustee.
SECTION 4.2. APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b) the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed hereunder shall hold office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60 days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor, any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE 5
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1. GUARANTEE. The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer may have or assert other than the defense of payment. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
SECTION 5.2. WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND. The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Guarantee Trustee, Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
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SECTION 5.3. OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED. The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred Securities;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders or the Guarantee Trustee to give notice to, or obtain the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 5.4. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS. The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Preference of the Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; (iv) [if the Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce this Guarantee,] any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer or any other Person; and (v) if an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures constituting the failure to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable has occurred and is continuing, then any Holder shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to proceed directly against the Guarantor to obtain Guarantee Payments without first waiting to determine if the Guarantee Trustee has enforced this Guarantee Agreement or instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person.
SECTION 5.5. GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT. This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer) or upon distribution of Debentures to Holders as provided in the Declaration of Trust.
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SECTION 5.6. SUBROGATION. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement and shall have the right to waive payment by the Issuer pursuant to Section 5.1; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.7. INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS. The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Preferred Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE 6
COVENANTS
SECTION 6.1. CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE GUARANTOR.
(a) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
(b) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
(c) The Guarantor covenants and agrees (i) to maintain directly or indirectly 100% ownership of the Common Securities, provided that certain successors which are permitted by the Indenture may succeed to the Guarantor's ownership of the Common Securities, (ii) not to voluntarily terminate, wind-up or liquidate the Issuer, except (a) in connection with a distribution of the Debentures to the holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Issuer or (b) in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted by the Declaration of Trust, and (iii) to use its reasonable efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of the Declaration of Trust, to cause the Issuer to remain classified as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. TERMINATION. This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the earliest of (i) the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities, or (ii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration of Trust upon liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to Preferred Securities or this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE 8
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
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ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article 8 of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 9.2. AMENDMENTS. Except with respect to any changes which do not adversely affect the rights of the Holders in any material respect (in which case no consent of the Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than 662/3% in Liquidation Preference of the Securities. The provisions of Article 6 of the Declaration of Trust concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval. The Guarantor shall furnish the Guarantee Trustee with an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any amendment of this Agreement is authorized and permitted.
SECTION 9.3. NOTICES. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set forth below or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders:
Boise
Cascade Corporation
1111 West Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 50
Boise, Idaho 83728-0001
Phone No.: (208) 384-6161
Facsimile No.: (208) 384-4912
Attention: General Counsel
(b) if given to the Issuer, in care of the Guarantee Trustee, at the Issuer's (and the Guarantee Trustee's) address set forth below or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer may give notice of to the Holders:
Boise
Cascade Trust I
c/o Boise Cascade Corporation
1111 West Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 50
Boise, Idaho 83728-0001
Phone No.: (208) 384-6161
Facsimile No.: (208) 384-4912
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Phone No.:____________________________
Facsimile No.:__________________________
Attention: Corporate Trust Services
(c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer.
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All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 9.4. BENEFIT. This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 9.5. INTERPRETATION. In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined in the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section 1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and
(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
SECTION 9.6. GOVERNING LAW. This Guarantee Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of New York without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written.
BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION | ||||
By: |
Name: Title: |
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BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY as Guarantee Trustee |
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By: |
Name: Title: |
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Consent of Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC
We hereby consent to the reference to our opinion and the use of our name under the caption "U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the Prospectus Supplement to Prospectus dated May 16, 2000 forming a part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-74981 and 333-74981-01) of Boise Cascade Corporation and Boise Cascade Trust I.
In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations issued thereunder.
/s/ BELL, BOYD & LLOYD LLC | ||
November 29, 2001 Chicago, Illinois |