As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 16, 2009
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 76-0470458 | |||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
1220 Augusta Drive
Suite 500
Houston, Texas 77057
(713) 570-3000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
Jay A. Brown
Chief Financial Officer
Crown Castle International Corp.
1220 Augusta Drive
Suite 500
Houston, Texas 77057
(713) 570-3000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With copies to:
Stephen L. Burns, Esq. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Worldwide Plaza 825 Eighth Avenue New York, New York 10019 (212) 474-1000 |
E. Blake Hawk, Esq. General Counsel Crown Castle International Corp. 1220 Augusta Drive Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77057 (713) 570-3000 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box: x
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box: ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer x |
Accelerated Filer ¨ | |
Non-Accelerated Filer ¨ |
Smaller Reporting Company ¨ |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of Securities to Be Registered |
Amount to Be Registered/ Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Unit/Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount of Registration Fee | ||
Debt Securities (1) |
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Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share (1) |
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Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (1) |
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Warrants (1) |
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(1) | An unspecified aggregate initial offering price and number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at unspecified prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant is deferring payment of all registration fees. Securities registered hereunder may be sold either separately or as units comprising more than one type of security registered hereunder. |
PROSPECTUS
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Warrants
The securities covered by this prospectus may be sold from time to time by Crown Castle International Corp. In addition, selling security holders to be named in a prospectus supplement may offer and sell from time to time securities in such amounts as are set forth in such prospectus supplement. We may, and any selling security holder may, offer the securities independently or together in any combination for sale directly to purchasers or through underwriters, dealers or agents to be designated at a future date. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of securities by any selling security holder.
When we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the specific issue of securities, including the offering price of the securities. You should carefully read this prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to the specific issue of securities, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you decide to invest in any of these securities.
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CCI.
The securities may be offered and sold to or through underwriters, dealers or agents as designated from time to time, or directly to one or more other purchasers or through a combination of such methods. See Plan of Distribution on page 24. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See Risk Factors on page 3 of this prospectus. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading Risk Factors contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is January 16, 2009.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to in this prospectus as the SEC, using the shelf registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we, or certain of our security holders, may from time to time sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we or a selling security holder may offer. Each time we, or, under certain circumstances, our security holders, sell securities in a manner not described herein, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of the offering and the means of distribution. A prospectus supplement may include other special considerations applicable to such offering of securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information.
The prospectus supplement will describe: the terms of the securities offered, any initial public offering price, the price paid to us for the securities, the net proceeds to us, the manner of distribution and any underwriting compensation and the other specific material terms related to the offering of the applicable securities. For more detail on the terms of the securities, you should read the exhibits filed with or incorporated by reference in our registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms Crown Castle, we, our, our company, the Company and us refer to Crown Castle International Corp., a Delaware corporation, whose shares of common stock are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CCI, and its subsidiaries.
References to securities include any security that we or our security holders might sell under this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
We prepare our financial statements in U.S. dollars and prepare our financial statements, including all of the financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP. Our fiscal year ends on December 31. In this prospectus, except where otherwise indicated, references to $ or dollars are to the lawful currency of the United States.
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein. Please refer to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of the documents referred to herein have been filed, or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under Where You Can Find More Information.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The distribution of this prospectus and sale of these securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons in possession of this prospectus are required to inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
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We own, operate and lease towers and other communication structures, including certain rooftop installations, referred to in this prospectus as towers, for wireless communications. As of December 31, 2008, we owned, leased or managed approximately 24,100 towers, including approximately 22,300 towers in the United States and approximately 1,600 towers in Australia, with the remainder of our towers located in Puerto Rico and Canada. As of December 31, 2008, we owned in fee or had perpetual or long-term easements in the land and other properties on which approximately 5,500 of our towers reside, and we leased, subleased or licensed the land on which approximately 17,600 of our towers reside. In addition, we managed approximately 700 towers owned by third parties where we had the right to market space on the tower or where we had sublease agreements with the tower owner. Our customers include many of the worlds major wireless communication companies, including Sprint Nextel, AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile in the United States and Optus, Vodafone, Telstra and Hutchison in Australia.
Our core business is the renting of antenna space on our towers to wireless communication companies under long-term contracts. Generally, our towers can accommodate multiple customers for antennas and other equipment necessary for the transmission of wireless signals for mobile telephones and other devices. Our site rental leasing revenues are derived from this core business, which we are seeking to grow by adding more tenants on our existing towers.
Our tower portfolios consist primarily of towers in various metropolitan areas. As of December 31, 2008, approximately 54% and 71% of our towers in the United States and Puerto Rico were located in the 50 and 100 largest basic trading areas, or BTAs, respectively. Through our Australia tower portfolio, we have a strategic presence in each of Australias major metropolitan areas, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
To a much lesser extent, we also provide certain network services relating to our towers, including antenna installation and subsequent augmentation, network design and site selection, site acquisition, site development and other services.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1220 Augusta Drive, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77057, and our telephone number is (713) 570-3000. We maintain an internet website at www.crowncastle.com. The information contained in or connected to our website is not a part of this prospectus.
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Investing in our securities involves risks. Potential investors are urged to read and consider the risk factors and other disclosures relating to an investment in securities issued by Crown Castle described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider those risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial may also affect our business operations. To the extent a particular offering implicates additional risks, we will include a discussion of those risks in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus include certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, business strategies, operating efficiencies or synergies, competitive positions, growth opportunities for existing products, plans and objectives of management, markets for our stock and other matters. Statements contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference that are not historical facts are identified as forward-looking statements for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. These forward-looking statements, including those relating to future business prospects, revenues and income, wherever they occur in this prospectus or documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in this prospectus. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include those factors described in the section entitled Risk Factors beginning on page 3 of this prospectus and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein.
Words such as estimate, anticipate, project, plan, intend, believe, expect, likely and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are found at various places throughout this prospectus and the other documents incorporated by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus or the date of the other documents incorporated by reference herein. Readers also should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and that the risk factors as listed in our filings with the SEC should not be considered a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Readers should also realize that if underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from our projections. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.
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We may register securities covered by this prospectus for re-offers and resales by any selling security holders to be named in a prospectus supplement. Because we are a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, we may add secondary sales of securities by any selling security holders by filing a prospectus supplement with the SEC. We may register these securities to permit selling security holders to resell their securities when they deem appropriate. A selling security holder may resell all, a portion or none of their securities at any time and from time to time. We may register those securities for sale through an underwriter or other plan of distribution as set forth in a prospectus supplement. See Plan of Distribution. Selling security holders may also sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of some or all of their securities in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. We may pay all expenses incurred with respect to the registration of the securities owned by the selling security holders, other than underwriting fees, discounts or commissions, which will be borne by the selling security holders. We will provide you with a prospectus supplement naming the selling security holders, the amount of securities to be registered and sold and other terms of the securities being sold by a selling security holder.
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Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities for general corporate purposes, possible future repayments of indebtedness or for such other purposes as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds from any sales of our securities by any selling security holder to be named in a prospectus supplement.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED
CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges, the deficiency of our earnings to cover fixed charges, our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends and the deficiency of our earnings to cover combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods indicated.
Year Ended December 31, | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | September 30, 2008 | |||||||||||||
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges |
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Deficiency of Earnings to Cover Fixed Charges |
$ | 462,448 | $ | 306,632 | $ | 392,043 | $ | 49,668 | $ | 318,409 | $ | 72,120 | ||||||
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends |
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Deficiency of Earnings to Cover Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends |
$ | 518,345 | $ | 345,250 | $ | 441,399 | $ | 70,474 | $ | 339,214 | $ | 87,724 |
For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges and earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, earnings represent income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles and fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest). Fixed charges consist of interest expense, capitalized interest, the interest component of operating leases, amortization of deferred financing costs and dividends on preferred stock classified as liabilities.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description of the terms of the debt securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which these general provisions may apply to those debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, reference must be made to both the prospectus supplement relating thereto and to the following description.
We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series. The debt securities will be general obligations of Crown Castle. In the event that any series of debt securities will be subordinated to other indebtedness that we have outstanding or may incur, the terms of the subordination will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the subordinated debt securities. Debt securities will be issued under one or more indentures between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, or another trustee named in the prospectus supplement. A copy of the form of indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement filed with the SEC. The following discussion of certain provisions of the indenture is a summary only and should not be considered a complete description of the terms and provisions of the indenture. Accordingly, the following discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the indenture, including the definition of certain terms used below.
General
The debt securities represent direct, general obligations of Crown Castle and:
| may rank equally with other unsubordinated debt or may be subordinated to other debt we have or may incur; |
| may be issued in one or more series with the same or various maturities; |
| may be issued at a price of 100% of their principal amount or at a premium or discount; |
| may be issued in registered or bearer form and certificated or uncertificated form; and |
| may be represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of a designated depositarys nominee, and if so, beneficial interests in the global note will be shown on and transfers will be made only through records maintained by the designated depositary and its participants. |
The aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may authenticate and deliver is unlimited. The debt securities may be issued in one or more series as we may authorize from time to time. You should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement for the following terms of the debt securities of the series with respect to which that prospectus supplement is being delivered:
| the title of the debt securities of the series (which shall distinguish the debt securities of that particular series from the debt securities of any other series); |
| the price or prices of the debt securities of the series; |
| any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under the indenture (except for debt securities authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other debt securities of the series); |
| the date or dates on which the principal and premium with respect to the debt securities of the series are payable; |
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| the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest (if any) or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest, if any, shall be payable or the method by which such dates will be determined, the record dates for the determination of holders thereof to whom such interest is payable (in the case of securities in registered form), and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; |
| the currency or currencies in which debt securities of the series shall be denominated, if other than U.S. dollars, the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the corporate trust office of the trustee (in the case of securities in registered form) or the principal New York office of the trustee (in the case of securities in bearer form), where the principal, premium and interest with respect to debt securities of the series shall be payable or the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means; |
| the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option or otherwise; |
| whether debt securities of the series are to be issued as securities in registered form or securities in bearer form or both and, if securities in bearer form are to be issued, whether coupons will be attached to them, whether securities in bearer form of the series may be exchanged for securities in registered form of the series, and the circumstances under which and the places at which any such exchanges, if permitted, may be made; |
| if any debt securities of the series are to be issued as securities in bearer form or as one or more global securities representing individual securities in bearer form of the series, whether certain provisions for the payment of additional interest or tax redemptions shall apply; whether interest with respect to any portion of a temporary bearer security of the series payable with respect to any interest payment date prior to the exchange of such temporary bearer security for definitive securities in bearer form of the series shall be paid to any clearing organization with respect to the portion of such temporary bearer security held for its account and, in such event, the terms and conditions (including any certification requirements) upon which any such interest payment received by a clearing organization will be credited to the persons entitled to interest payable on such interest payment date; and the terms upon which a temporary bearer security may be exchanged for one or more definitive securities in bearer form of the series; |
| the obligation, if any, to redeem, purchase or repay debt securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of such debt securities and the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, debt securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations; |
| the terms, if any, upon which the debt securities of the series may be convertible into or exchanged for any issuers common stock, preferred stock, other debt securities or warrants for common stock, preferred stock, indebtedness or other securities of any kind and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and any other additional provisions; |
| if other than denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which debt securities of the series shall be issuable; |
| if the amount of principal, premium or interest with respect to the debt securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined; |
| if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of debt securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such stated maturity, the amount that will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which will be |
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deemed to be outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined), and if necessary, the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in U.S. dollars; |
| any changes or additions to the provisions of the indenture dealing with defeasance; |
| if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or provable in bankruptcy; |
| the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the debt securities of the series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of the indenture as then in effect; |
| any addition to or change in the events of default with respect to the debt securities of the series and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium and interest, if any, with respect to such debt securities due and payable; |
| if the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual debt securities in definitive registered form, the depositary (as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement) for such global security and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such global security in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in the indenture; |
| any trustee, authenticating or paying agent, transfer agent or registrar; |
| the applicability of, and any addition to or change in, the covenants and definitions then set forth in the indenture or in the terms then set forth in the indenture relating to permitted consolidations, mergers or sales of assets; |
| the subordination, if any, of the debt securities of the series pursuant to the indenture and any changes or additions to the provisions of the indenture relating to subordination; |
| with regard to debt securities of the series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the trustee; and |
| any other terms of the debt securities of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of the indenture). |
The prospectus supplement will also describe any material U.S. federal income tax consequences or other special considerations applicable to the series of debt securities to which such prospectus supplement relates, including those applicable to:
| securities in bearer form; |
| debt securities with respect to which payments of principal, premium or interest are determined with reference to an index or formula (including changes in prices of particular securities, currencies or commodities); |
| debt securities with respect to which principal or interest is payable in a foreign or composite currency; |
| debt securities that are issued at a discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates, or original issue discount debt securities; and |
| variable rate debt securities that are exchangeable for fixed rate debt securities. |
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, securities in registered form may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the trustee at which its corporate trust business is principally
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administered in the United States or at the office of the trustee or the trustees agent in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, at which its corporate agency business is conducted, subject to the limitations provided in the indenture, without the payment of any service charge, other than any tax or governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Securities in bearer form will be transferable only by delivery. Provisions with respect to the exchange of securities in bearer form will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities in bearer form.
All funds that we pay to a paying agent for the payment of principal, premium or interest with respect to any debt securities that remain unclaimed at the end of two years after that principal, premium or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holders of those debt securities or any related coupons will thereafter look only to us for payment thereof.
Global Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities. A global security is a debt security that represents, and is denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all outstanding debt securities of a series, or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal and interest are due, and interest rate or method of determining interest. A global security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary, which will be identified in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities. Global securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities represented thereby, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to a nominee of the depositary, by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary, or by the depositary or any nominee of the depositary to a successor depositary or any nominee of such successor.
The terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will generally apply to depositary arrangements, in all cases subject to any restrictions or limitations described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.
Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary for such global security will credit, on its book entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the individual debt securities represented by such global security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with the depositary, referred to as participants. Such accounts shall be designated by the dealers or underwriters with respect to such debt securities or, if such debt securities are offered and sold directly by us or through one or more agents, by us or such agents. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants or persons that hold beneficial interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary (with respect to interests of participants) or records maintained by participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limitations and laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.
So long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of such global security, such depositary or nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the individual debt securities represented by such global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have any of the individual debt securities represented by such global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any of such debt securities in definitive form, and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture.
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Payments of principal, premium, and interest with respect to individual debt securities represented by a global security will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner or holder of such global security. Neither we, the trustee, any paying agent or registrar for such debt securities nor any agent of ours or the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for:
| any aspect of the records relating to or payments made by the depositary, its nominee or any participants on account of beneficial interests in the global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests; |
| the payment to the owners of beneficial interests in the global security of amounts paid to the depositary or its nominee; or |
| any other matter relating to the actions and practices of the depositary, its nominee or its participants. |
Neither we, the trustee, any paying agent or registrar for such debt securities or any agent of ours or the trustee will be liable for any delay by the depositary, its nominee or any of its participants in identifying the owners of beneficial interests in the global security, and we and the trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the depositary or its nominee for all purposes.
We expect that the depositary for a series of debt securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest with respect to a definitive global security representing any of such debt securities, will immediately credit participants accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global security, as shown on the records of the depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such global security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers and registered in street name. Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants. Receipt by owners of beneficial interests in a temporary global security of payments of principal, premium or interest with respect thereto will be subject to the restrictions described in an applicable prospectus supplement. See Limitation on Issuance of Securities in Bearer Form below.
If the depositary for a series of debt securities is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary, we shall appoint a successor depositary. If a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue individual debt securities of such series in exchange for the global security representing such series of debt securities. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine to no longer have debt securities of a series represented by a global security and, in such event, will issue individual debt securities of such series in exchange for the global security representing such series of debt securities. Furthermore, if we so specify with respect to the debt securities of a series, an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security representing debt securities of such series may, on terms acceptable to us, the trustee, and the depositary for such global security, receive individual debt securities of such series in exchange for such beneficial interests. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security will be entitled to physical delivery of individual debt securities of the series represented by such global security equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such debt securities registered in its name (if the debt securities are issuable as securities in registered form). Individual debt securities of such series so issued will generally be issued:
| as securities in registered form in denominations, unless otherwise specified by us, of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof if the debt securities are issuable as securities in registered form; |
| as securities in bearer form in the denomination or denominations specified by us if the debt securities are issuable as securities in bearer form; or |
| as either securities in registered form or securities in bearer form as described above if the debt securities are issuable in either form. |
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Limitations on Issuance of Securities in Bearer Form
The debt securities of a series may be issued as securities in registered form (which will be registered as to principal and interest in the register maintained by the registrar for such debt securities) or securities in bearer form (which will be transferable only by delivery). If such debt securities are issuable as securities in bearer form, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe certain special limitations and considerations that will apply to such debt securities.
Certain Covenants
If debt securities are issued, the indenture, as supplemented for a particular series of debt securities, will contain certain covenants for the benefit of the holders of such series of debt securities, which will be applicable (unless waived or amended) so long as any of the debt securities of such series are outstanding, unless stated otherwise in the prospectus supplement. The specific terms of the covenants, and summaries thereof, will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities.
Subordination
Debt securities of a series may be subordinated, which we refer to as subordinated debt securities, to senior indebtedness (as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement) to the extent set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. To the extent we conduct operations through subsidiaries, the holders of debt securities (whether or not subordinated debt securities) will be structurally subordinated to the creditors of our subsidiaries.
Events of Default
Each of the following constitutes an event of default under the form of indenture with respect to any series of debt securities:
| default in payment of the principal or premium, if any, on the debt securities of that series, when such amount becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, required redemption or otherwise; |
| failure to pay interest on the debt securities of that series within 30 days of the due date; |
| failure to comply with the obligations described under Mergers and Sales of Assets below; |
| failure to comply for 60 days after notice with any of our other agreements in the debt securities of that series or the indenture or supplemental indenture related to that series of debt securities; or |
| certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting us. |
A prospectus supplement may omit, modify or add to the foregoing events of default.
A default under the fourth clause above will not constitute an event of default until the trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities notify us of the default and we do not cure such default within the time specified after receipt of such notice.
If any event of default (other than an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) occurs and is continuing with respect to a particular series of debt securities, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding by written notice to us (and to the trustee if such notice is given by the holders), may declare the principal amount of (or in the case of original issue discount debt securities, the portion thereby specified in the terms thereof), premium, if any, and accrued interest on the debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable. In the case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal amount of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the debt securities of that series shall automatically become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holders.
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The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series then outstanding by notice to the trustee under the indenture may on behalf of the holders of all of such series of debt securities waive any existing default or event of default and its consequences under the applicable indenture except a continuing default or event of default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the debt securities of such series.
Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default shall occur and be continuing, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture or debt securities at the request or direction of any of the holders of any series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered to the trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the trustee, the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to such series of debt securities. The trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the indenture or that the trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder of such series of debt securities or that would involve the trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the indenture, the trustee is entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest when due, no holder of debt securities of a series has any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture or debt securities, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless:
| such holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to such series of debt securities; |
| the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holder or holders have offered reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense, to the trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee; and |
| the trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and has not received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer. |
However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of a debt security of such series for the enforcement of payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on such debt security on or after the applicable due date specified in such debt security.
The indenture provides that if a default with respect to a series of debt securities occurs and is continuing and is known to the trustee, the trustee must mail to each holder of such debt securities notice of the default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a default in the principal or premium, if any, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise with respect to any debt security of a series when such amount becomes due and payable, the trustee may withhold notice if and so long as a committee of its trust officers in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the holders.
The indenture requires us to furnish to the trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a statement by certain of our officers as to whether or not we, to their knowledge, are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the indenture and, if so, specifying all such known defaults.
Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks and brokers for information on their requirements for giving notice or taking other actions upon a default.
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Modification and Waiver
Modifications and amendments of the indenture, any supplemental indenture and any series of debt securities may be made by us and the trustee with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series affected by such modification or amendment.
No such modification or amendment may, without the consent of each holder affected thereby,
| make any change to the percentage of principal amount of debt securities of any series the holders of which must consent to an amendment; |
| reduce the principal amount of, premium, if any, or interest on, or extend the stated maturity or interest payment periods, of any debt security; |
| make any debt security payable in money or securities other than that stated in such debt security; |
| make any change that adversely affects such holders right to require us to purchase a debt security, if any; |
| impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment with respect to the debt securities; |
| in the case of any subordinated debt security or coupons appertaining thereto, make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to subordination that adversely affects the rights of any holder under such provisions; |
| except as provided under Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture; Defeasance, release any security that may have been granted with respect to the debt securities; or |
| waive a default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities of a series or modify any provisions of the indenture relating to modification or amendment thereof. |
Without the consent of any holder, we and the trustee may amend the indenture for one or more of the following purposes:
| to evidence the succession of another person pursuant to the provisions of the indenture relating to consolidations, mergers and sales of assets and the assumption by such successor of the covenants, agreements and obligations in the indenture and in the debt securities; |
| to surrender any right or power conferred upon us by the indenture, to add to our covenants such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders of all or any series of debt securities as our boards of directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such debt securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in respect of any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a default or an event of default under the indenture (provided, however, that with respect to any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision, such supplemental indenture may provide for a period of grace after default, which may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults, may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default, may limit the remedies available to the trustee upon such default or may limit the right of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any series of debt securities to waive such default); |
| to cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision contained in the indenture, in any supplemental indenture or in any debt securities that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained therein; |
| to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the indenture as shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holders of debt securities of any series; |
| to modify or amend the indenture in such a manner as to permit the qualification of the indenture or any supplemental indenture under the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect; |
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| to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide that securities in bearer form may be registerable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal or premium with respect to securities in registered form or of principal, premium or interest with respect to securities in bearer form; or to permit securities in registered form to be exchanged for securities in bearer form, so as to not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities or any coupons of any series in any material respect or permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities of any series in uncertificated form; |
| in the case of subordinated debt securities, to make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to subordination that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of senior indebtedness under such provisions (but only if each such holder of senior indebtedness consents to such change); |
| to add guarantees with respect to the debt securities or to secure the debt securities; |
| to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder; |
| to add to, change, or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture with respect to one or more series of debt securities, so long as any such addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under the indenture shall (a) neither apply to any debt security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor modify the rights of the holders of any such debt security with respect to such provision or (b) become effective only when there is no such debt security outstanding; |
| to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor or separate trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the indenture by more than one trustee; or |
| to establish the form or terms of debt securities and coupons of any series, as described under General above. |
Mergers and Sales of Assets
The indenture provides that we may not consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to another person, unless among other items: (a) the resulting, surviving or transferee person (if other than us) is organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and such person expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture, all of our obligations under all of the debt securities and the indenture; (b) we or such successor person shall not immediately thereafter be in default under the indenture; and (c) we shall have provided the trustee with an opinion of counsel and officers certificate confirming compliance with the indenture. Upon the assumption of our obligations by such a person in such circumstances, subject to certain exceptions, we shall be discharged from all obligations under all debt securities and the indenture (except in the case of a lease).
Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture; Defeasance
Unless otherwise provided for in the prospectus supplement, the indenture shall generally cease to be of any further effect with respect to a series of debt securities if (a) we have delivered to the trustee for cancellation all debt securities of such series (with certain limited exceptions) or (b) all debt securities and coupons of such series not theretofore delivered to the trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and we shall have deposited with the trustee as trust funds the entire amount sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such debt securities and coupons (and if, in either case, we shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable under the indenture by us).
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In addition, we shall have a legal defeasance option (pursuant to which we may terminate, with respect to the debt securities of a particular series, all of our obligations under such debt securities and the indenture with respect to such debt securities) and a covenant defeasance option (pursuant to which we may terminate, with respect to the debt securities of a particular series, our obligations with respect to such debt securities under certain specified covenants contained in the indenture). If we exercise our legal defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities, payment of such debt securities may not be accelerated because of an event of default. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities, payment of such debt securities may not be accelerated because of an event of default related to the specified covenants.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the procedures we must follow in order to exercise our defeasance options.
Regarding the Trustee
The indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an event of default, the trustee will exercise such rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such persons own affairs.
The indenture and provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are incorporated by reference therein contain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become one of our creditors, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us or any of our affiliates; provided, however, that if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the indenture or in the Trust Indenture Act), it must eliminate such conflict or resign.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
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The following descriptions set forth certain general terms of our common stock, our authorized but unissued preferred stock and our 6.25% Convertible Preferred Stock that is issued and outstanding. The descriptions set forth below are not complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, and, for any series of preferred stock, the certificate of designations relating to such particular series of preferred stock. The particular terms of any series of preferred stock offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which these general provisions may apply to that series of preferred stock will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. Copies of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws are incorporated by reference herein. For more information on how you can obtain copies of these documents, see Where You Can Find More Information. You are urged to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws in their entirety.
Our authorized capital stock consists of 600,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share. As of September 30, 2008 there were 288,590,329 shares of our common stock outstanding and 6,361,000 shares of our 6.25% Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding. Our common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol CCI.
Common Stock
Voting Rights
Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote. The common stock votes together as a single class on all matters presented for a vote of the stockholders, except as provided under the DGCL.
Dividends and Liquidation Rights
Each share of common stock is entitled to receive dividends if, as and when declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to approval of certain holders of preferred stock. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after satisfaction of amounts payable to our creditors and distribution of any preferential amounts to the holders of outstanding preferred stock, if any, holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in the assets available for distribution to the stockholders.
Other Provisions
There are no preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional securities which we may issue, and there are no redemption provisions or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
Preferred Stock
Under our certificate of incorporation, we may issue up to 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. Our board of directors is authorized, without any vote or action by our stockholders, to create one or more series of preferred stock up to the limit of our authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and to fix their designations, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions, including the voting rights, dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption price or prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series.
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6.25% Convertible Preferred Stock
Each share of our 6.25% convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as our convertible preferred stock, has a liquidation preference of $50 and is convertible, at the option of the holder, in whole or in part, into shares of our common stock.
Voting Rights
The shares of convertible preferred stock have no voting rights, except as required by law and as specified in the certificate of designations. If we fail to meet certain of our obligations under the certificate of designations, the holders of the convertible preferred stock, voting as a single class with holders of other series of convertible preferred stock that rank equally or senior to the convertible preferred stock and have similar voting rights, will be entitled to elect two additional members to our board of directors that will serve until we meet those obligations.
Convertibility
The shares of convertible preferred stock are convertible, at the option of the holder, into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $36.875 per share of common stock, subject to certain adjustments. The shares of convertible preferred stock are convertible, at our option, into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $36.875 if our common stock is trading at certain prices.
We may cause the shares of convertible preferred stock, in whole or in part, to be automatically converted into a number of shares of our common stock equal to the liquidation preference of the convertible preferred stock divided by the then prevailing conversion price if the current market value of our common stock equals or exceeds 120% of the then prevailing conversion price for at least 20 trading days in any consecutive 30-day trading period.
Dividends
Dividends are paid on each February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, at an annual fixed rate of 6.25%. Dividends on the convertible preferred stock can be paid at our option in cash, common stock or any combination of cash and common stock.
Mandatory Redemption
We are required to redeem shares of convertible preferred stock outstanding on August 15, 2012 at 100% of the liquidation preference of such shares, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends to the date of redemption.
Change of Control
If we experience specific kinds of changes in control, each holder of shares of convertible preferred stock will have the right to require us to purchase any or all shares of convertible preferred stock of that holder at a purchase price of 100% of the liquidation preference of such shares together with all accumulated and unpaid dividends to the date of purchase. This right of holders is subject to our obligation to offer to repay a substantial portion of our own and our subsidiaries indebtedness and offer to redeem outstanding shares of a series of convertible preferred stock that are tendered for redemption in connection with such change in control.
Certain Covenants
We issued the convertible preferred stock under a certificate of designations that subsequently became part of our certificate of incorporation. The certificate of designations contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to pay dividends on stock.
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Ranking
The convertible preferred stock, with respect to dividend rights and upon liquidation, winding up or dissolution, ranks (1) junior to each class or series of our capital stock other than (a) our common stock and any other class or series of our capital stock the terms of which provide that that class or series will rank junior to the convertible preferred stock and (b) any other class or series of our capital stock the terms of which provide that that class or series will rank on a parity with the convertible preferred stock; (2) on a parity with our convertible redeemable preferred stock and each other class or series of our capital stock that has terms which provide that that class or series will rank on a parity with the convertible preferred stock; and (3) senior to our common stock and each class or series of our capital stock that has terms which provide that that class or series will rank junior to the convertible preferred stock.
Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws
Stockholders rights and related matters are governed by the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation and our by-laws. Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, which are summarized below, may have the effect, either alone or in combination with each other, of discouraging or making more difficult a tender offer or takeover attempt that is opposed by our board of directors but that a stockholder might consider to be in its best interest. Such provisions may also adversely affect prevailing market prices for our common stock. We believe that such provisions are necessary to enable us to develop our business in a manner that will foster our long-term growth without disruption caused by the threat of a takeover not deemed by our board of directors to be in our best interests and those of our stockholders.
Classified Board of Directors and Related Provisions
Our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors, other than those directors who may be elected by holders of any series of preferred stock are divided into three classes of directors as nearly equal in number as possible. The term for each class is three years. Class terms expire on a rolling basis, so that one class of directors is elected each year. The classified board provisions will prevent a party who acquires control of a majority of our outstanding voting stock from obtaining control of our board of directors until the second annual stockholders meeting following the date such party obtains the controlling interest. Voting stock is defined in our certificate of incorporation as the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote in a general vote of our stockholders as a single class with shares of common stock.
No Stockholder Action by Written Consent; Special Meeting
The certificate of incorporation prohibits stockholders from taking action by written consent in lieu of an annual or special meeting, and, thus, stockholders may only take action at an annual or special meeting called in accordance with our by-laws. The by-laws provide that special meetings of stockholders may only be called by our secretary, chief executive officer or president at the direction of our board of directors under a resolution adopted by the board or by the chief executive officer.
These provisions could have the effect of delaying consideration of a stockholder proposal until the next annual meeting. These provisions would also prevent the holders of a majority of the voting power of our capital stock entitled to vote from unilaterally using the written consent procedure to take stockholder action.
Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our by-laws establish advance notice procedures for stockholder proposals and the nomination, other than by or at the direction of the board of directors, of candidates for election as directors. These procedures provide that the notice of stockholder proposals and stockholder nominations for the election of directors at an annual meeting must be in writing and received by our secretary at least 90 days but not more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of our preceding years annual meeting. However, if the date of our annual meeting is more than 30 days earlier than, or more than 90 days later than, the anniversary date of our preceding years annual
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meeting, notice by a stockholder will be considered timely if it is delivered not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made. The notice of nominations for the election of directors must set forth certain information concerning the stockholder giving the notice and each nominee.
By requiring advance notice of nominations by stockholders, these procedures will afford our board of directors an opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by the board of directors, to inform stockholders about these qualifications. By requiring advance notice of other proposed business, these procedures will provide our board of directors with an opportunity to inform stockholders of any business proposed to be conducted at a meeting, together with any recommendations as to the board of directors position on action to be taken on such business. This should allow stockholders to better decide whether to attend a meeting or to grant a proxy for the disposition of any such business.
Dilution
Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is authorized to create and issue, whether or not in connection with the issuance and sale of any of its stock or other securities or property, rights entitling the holders to purchase from us shares of stock or other securities of us or of any other corporation. Our board of directors is authorized to issue these rights even though the creation and issuance of these rights could have the effect of discouraging third parties from seeking, or impairing their right to seek, to:
| acquire a significant portion of our outstanding securities; |
| engage in any transaction which might result in a change of control of the corporation; or |
| enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with another party to accomplish these transactions or for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any of our securities. |
Amendments
Our certificate of incorporation and by-laws provide that we may amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in our certificate of incorporation or a preferred stock designation. However, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class, is required to amend, repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation, including the provisions discussed above relating to the classification of our board of directors, the issuance of stockholder rights, prohibiting stockholder action by written consent, and prohibiting the calling of special meetings by stockholders.
Our by-laws may be amended by either the holders of 80% of the voting power of the voting stock or by the majority of the board, but the board may alter, amend or repeal or adopt new by-laws in conflict with certain of the by-law provisions only by a two-thirds vote of the entire board.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL which generally prohibit certain transactions between a Delaware corporation and an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date such interested stockholder acquired its stock, unless:
| the business combination is approved by the corporations board of directors prior to the date the interested stockholder acquired shares; |
| the interested stockholder acquired at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation in the transaction in which it became an interested stockholder; or |
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| the business combination is approved by a majority of the board of directors and by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock owned by disinterested stockholders at an annual or special meeting. |
A business combination is defined broadly to include mergers, consolidations, sales or other dispositions of assets having an aggregate value of 10% or more of the consolidated assets of the corporation, and certain transactions that would increase the interested stockholders proportionate share ownership in the corporation. In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as an entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.
Limitations of Directors Liability
Our certificate of incorporation provides that none of our directors will be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director except for liability:
| for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, |
| for acts of omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, |
| under Section 174 of the DGCL, or |
| for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
The effect of these provisions will be to eliminate our rights and the rights of our stockholders (through stockholders derivatives suits on behalf of us) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director (including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior), except in the situations described above. These provisions will not limit the liability of directors under federal securities laws and will not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as an injunction or rescission based upon a directors breach of his duty of care.
Transfer Agent
The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the common stock is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services.
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We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, preferred stock or common stock offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the warrant agreement that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such warrants.
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of such warrants, including the following:
| the title of such warrants; |
| the offering price for such warrants, if any; |
| the aggregate number of such warrants; |
| the designation and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants; |
| if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security; |
| if applicable, the date from and after which such warrants and any securities issued therewith will be separately transferable; |
| the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which such principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise (which price may be payable in cash, securities, or other property) and the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which such shares may be purchased upon exercise; |
| the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| whether the warrants represented by the warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form; |
| information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations; |
| the antidilution provisions of such warrants, if any; |
| the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to such warrants; and |
| any additional terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants. |
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We and any selling security holder may offer and sell the securities covered by this prospectus from time to time, in one or more transactions, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to market prices, at a fixed price or prices subject to change, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices, by a variety of methods, including the following:
| through agents; |
| to or through underwriters; |
| in at the market offerings, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; |
| through brokers or dealers; |
| directly by us or any selling security holders to purchasers, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process; or |
| through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
Registration of the securities covered by this prospectus does not mean that those securities necessarily will be offered or sold.
In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by us may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Broker-dealer transactions may include:
| purchases of the securities by a broker-dealer as principal and resales of the securities by the broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus; |
| ordinary brokerage transactions; or |
| transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers. |
In addition, we and any selling security holder may sell any securities covered by this prospectus in private transactions or under Rule 144 of the Securities Act rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
We may sell offered securities through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent in the offer or sale of the securities for which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to that agent will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement. Unless indicated in the prospectus supplement, the agents will have agreed to use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment.
In connection with the sale of securities covered by this prospectus, broker-dealers may receive commissions or other compensation from us in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions. Broker-dealers may also receive compensation from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents or to whom they sell as principals or both. Compensation as to a particular broker-dealer may be in excess of customary commissions or in amounts to be negotiated. In connection with any underwritten offering, underwriters may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Any underwriters, broker-dealers agents or other persons acting on our behalf that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any profit on the sale of the securities by them and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by any of those underwriters, broker-dealers agents or other persons may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
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In connection with the distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus or otherwise, we or any selling stockholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions. In connection with such transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of our securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume with us or any selling stockholder. We or any selling stockholder may also sell securities short and deliver the securities offered by this prospectus to close out our short positions. We or any selling security holder may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus, as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction. We or any selling security holder may also from time to time pledge our securities pursuant to the margin provisions of our customer agreements with our brokers. Upon our default, the broker may offer and sell such pledged securities from time to time pursuant to this prospectus, as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction.
At any time a particular offer of the securities covered by this prospectus is made, a revised prospectus or prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of securities covered by this prospectus being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents, any discounts, commissions, concessions and other items constituting compensation from us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. Such prospectus supplement, and, if necessary, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, will be filed with the SEC to reflect the disclosure of additional information with respect to the distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus. In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities sold under this prospectus may only be sold through registered or licensed broker-dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
In connection with an underwritten offering, we and any selling stockholder would execute an underwriting agreement with an underwriter or underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the revised prospectus or applicable prospectus supplement, such underwriting agreement would provide that the obligations of the underwriter or underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent, and that the underwriter or underwriters with respect to a sale of the covered securities will be obligated to purchase all of the covered securities, if any such securities are purchased. We or any selling security holder may grant to the underwriter or underwriters an option to purchase additional securities at the public offering price, less any underwriting discount, as may be set forth in the revised prospectus or applicable prospectus supplement. If we or any selling security holder grants any such option, the terms of that option will be set forth in the revised prospectus or applicable prospectus supplement.
Underwriters, agents, brokers or dealers may be entitled, pursuant to relevant agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us or any selling security holder against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact, or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in this prospectus, any supplement or amendment hereto, or in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters, agents, brokers or dealers may be required to make.
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The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement and certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York, New York. If the securities are being distributed in an underwritten offering, certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by counsel identified in the related prospectus supplement.
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Our consolidated financial statements and schedule as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The audit report covering our consolidated financial statements states that, in 2005, we adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement ObligationsAn Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143, and, in 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income TaxesAn Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, effective January 1, 2007.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the internet at the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov and through the investor relations section of our website at http://investor.crowncastle.com/sec.cfm. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SECs public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room.
We are incorporating by reference into this prospectus specific documents that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents that are considered part of this prospectus. Information that we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, and any future documents that we file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until the termination of the offerings of all of the securities covered by this prospectus has been completed. This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the SEC.
We are incorporating by reference into this prospectus the following documents filed with the SEC (excluding any portions of such documents that have been furnished but not filed for purposes of the Exchange Act):
| our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007; |
| our Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q filed May 2, 2008, August 6, 2008 and November 6, 2008; |
| our Definitive Proxy Statement filed April 8, 2008; |
| our Current Reports on Forms 8-K filed January 10, 2008, February 25, 2008, April 25, 2008, May 23, 2008, July 15, 2008 and January 6, 2009; and |
| the Description of Capital Stock section of our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on August 4, 1998, the Description of Capital Stock section of our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on July 10, 2000, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on July 17, 2000, the Description of Crown Castle Capital Stock section of our Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on November 6, 2006, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on November 29, 2006, and any other amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request and without charge, a copy of the documents referred to above that we have incorporated in this prospectus by reference. You can request copies of such documents if you write or call us at the following address or telephone number: Investor Relations, Crown Castle International Corp., 1220 Augusta Drive, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77057, (713) 570-3000, or you may visit the investor relations section of our website at http://investor.crowncastle.com/sec.cfm for copies of any such document.
This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference herein or therein, contains summaries of certain agreements that we have filed as exhibits to various SEC filings, as well as certain agreements that we will enter into in connection with the offering of securities covered by any particular accompanying prospectus supplement. The descriptions of these agreements contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference herein or therein do not purport to be complete and are subject to, or qualified in their entirety by reference to, the definitive agreements. Copies of the definitive agreements will be made available without charge to you by making a written or oral request to us.
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Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or in any accompanying prospectus supplement, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified and superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by Crown Castle International Corp. (the registrant) in connection with the sale or distribution of the securities registered under this registration statement. All of the amounts shown are estimates.
Amount | ||||
SEC Registration Fee |
$ | 0 | * | |
Printing and Engraving Expenses |
40,000 | |||
Legal Fees and Expenses |
250,000 | |||
Rating Agency Fees |
500,000 | |||
Accounting Fees and Expenses |
100,000 | |||
Trustee Fees |
40,000 | |||
Miscellaneous |
45,000 | |||
Total |
$ | 975,000 | ||
* | Under Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act, applicable SEC registration fees have been deferred and will be paid at the time of any particular offering of securities under this registration statement, and are therefore not estimable at this time. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Pursuant to the DGCL, a corporation may indemnify any person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than a derivative action by or in the right of such corporation) who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or serving at the request of such corporation in such capacity for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of such corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
The DGCL also permits indemnification by a corporation under similar circumstances for expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such persons in connection with the defense or settlement of a derivative action or suit, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to such corporation unless the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.
To the extent a director, officer, employee or agent is successful in the defense of such an action, suit or proceeding, the corporation is required by the DGCL to indemnify such person for actual and reasonable expenses incurred thereby. Expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by such persons in defending any action, suit or proceeding may be paid in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be so indemnified.
The DGCL provides that the indemnification described above shall not be deemed exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation pursuant to its by-laws, disinterested directors vote, stockholders vote, agreement or otherwise.
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The DGCL also provides corporations with the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation in a similar capacity for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability as described above.
Accordingly, the certificate of incorporation of the registrant provides that the registrant shall, to the maximum extent permitted under the DGCL, indemnify each person who is or was a director or officer of the registrant. The registrant may, by action of the board of directors, indemnify other employees and agents of the registrant, directors, officers, employees or agents of a subsidiary, and each person serving as a director, officer, partner, member, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, at the request of the registrant, with the same scope and effect as the indemnification of directors and officers of the registrant. However, the registrant shall be required to indemnify any person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors or is a proceeding to enforce such persons claim to indemnification pursuant to the rights granted by the certificate of incorporation or otherwise by the registrant. The registrant may also enter into one or more agreements with any person which provide for indemnification greater or different than that provided in the certificate of incorporation.
Furthermore, a director of the registrant shall not be liable to the registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (1) for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the registrant or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
The registrants by-laws provide that each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any manner in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (Proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was a director or officer of the registrant or, while a director or officer of the registrant, a director, officer, employee or agent of a subsidiary, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall be indemnified and held harmless by the registrant to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that the registrant shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors or is a Proceeding to enforce such persons claim to indemnification pursuant to the rights granted by the registrants by-laws. The registrant shall pay the expenses incurred by any person described in the first two sentences of this paragraph in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon, to the extent such an undertaking is required by applicable law, receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the registrant as authorized in the registrants by-laws or otherwise.
The registrants by-laws further provide that the indemnification and the advancement of expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding prior to its final disposition provided by, or granted pursuant to, the registrants by-laws shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, other provision of the registrants by-laws or otherwise. The registrant may also maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, partner, member, employee or agent of the registrant or a subsidiary or of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the registrant would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
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The registrants by-laws further provide that the registrant may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the board of directors, grant rights to indemnification, and rights to be paid by the registrant the expenses incurred in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any person who is or was an employee or agent (other than a director or officer) of the registrant or a subsidiary thereof and to any person who is or was serving at the request of the registrant or a subsidiary thereof as a director, officer, partner, member, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans maintained or sponsored by the registrant or a subsidiary thereof, to the fullest extent of the provisions of the registrants by-laws with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the registrant.
The registrant carries liability insurance for its directors and officers.
Item 16. Exhibits
See Exhibit Index.
Item 17. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that clauses (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those clauses is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that is part of the registration statement;
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
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(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B under the Securities Act relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) under the Securities Act for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B under the Securities Act, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date;
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) For an offering in which the securities to be registered are to be offered to existing security holders pursuant to warrants or rights and any securities not taken by security holders are to be reoffered to the public, the undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the
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subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.
(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and
(2) for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(f) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the Trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on this 16th day of January, 2009.
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ Jay A. Brown | |
Jay A. Brown Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The officers and directors of Crown Castle International Corp. whose signatures appear below hereby constitute and appoint W. Benjamin Moreland and Jay A. Brown, or either of them, to act severally as attorneys-in-fact and agents, with power of substitution and resubstitution, for each of them in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this report and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on this 16th day of January, 2009.
Signatures |
Title | |
/s/ W. Benjamin Moreland W. Benjamin Moreland |
President and Chief Executive Officer, Director (Principal Executive Officer) | |
/s/ Jay A. Brown Jay A. Brown |
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) | |
/s/ Rob A. Fisher Rob A. Fisher |
Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) | |
/s/ J. Landis Martin J. Landis Martin |
Chairman of the Board of Directors | |
/s/ John P. Kelly John P. Kelly |
Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors | |
/s/ David C. Abrams David C. Abrams |
Director | |
/s/ Cindy Christy Cindy Christy |
Director | |
/s/ Ari Q. Fitzgerald Ari Q. Fitzgerald |
Director | |
/s/ Robert E. Garrison II Robert E. Garrison II |
Director | |
/s/ Dale N. Hatfield Dale N. Hatfield |
Director | |
/s/ Lee W. Hogan Lee W. Hogan |
Director | |
/s/ Edward C. Hutcheson Jr. Edward C. Hutcheson Jr. |
Director | |
/s/ Robert F. McKenzie Robert F. McKenzie |
Director |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Set forth below is a list of exhibits that are being filed or incorporated by reference into this prospectus:
Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||
Exhibit |
Exhibit Description |
Form | File No. |
Date of Filing |
Exhibit Number |
Filed Herewith | ||||||
1.1 | Form of Equity Securities Underwriting Agreement.* | | | | | * | ||||||
1.2 | Form of Debt Securities Underwriting Agreement.* | | | | | * | ||||||
2.1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 5, 2006, among Global Signal Inc., Crown Castle International Corp. and CCGS Holdings LLC | 8-K | 001-16441 | October 11, 2006 | 2.1 | | ||||||
4.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Crown Castle International Corp., dated May 24, 2007 | 8-K | 001-16441 | May 30, 2007 | 3.1 | | ||||||
4.2 | Amended and Restated By-laws of Crown Castle International Corp., dated May 24, 2007 | 8-K | 001-16441 | May 30, 2007 | 3.2 | | ||||||
4.3 | Specimen Certificate of Common Stock | S-1 | 333-57283 | August 11, 1998 | 4.6 | | ||||||
4.4 | Indenture, dated as of December 2, 2003, between Crown Castle International Corp. and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to the 7.5% Senior Notes due 2013 (including exhibits) | S-4 | 333-112176 | January 23, 2004 | 4.18 | | ||||||
4.5 | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 1, 2005, between Crown Castle International Corp. and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to the 7.5% Notes | 8-K | 001-16441 | June 2, 2005 | 4.3, 4.4 | | ||||||
4.6 | Indenture, dated as of June 1, 2005, relating to the Senior Secured Tower Revenue Notes, by and among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Indenture Trustee, and Crown Castle Towers LLC, Crown Castle South LLC, Crown Communication Inc., Crown Castle PT Inc., Crown Communication New York, Inc. and Crown Castle International Corp. de Puerto Rico, collectively, as Issuers | 8-K | 001-16441 | June 9, 2005 | 4.1 | | ||||||
4.7 | Indenture Supplement, dated as of June 1, 2005, relating to the Senior Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2005-1, by and among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Indenture Trustee, and Crown Castle Towers LLC, Crown Castle South LLC, Crown Communication Inc., Crown Castle PT Inc., Crown Communication New York, Inc. and Crown Castle International Corp. de Puerto Rico, collectively, as Issuers | 8-K | 001-16441 | June 9, 2005 | 4.2 | |
Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||
Exhibit |
Exhibit Description |
Form | File No. |
Date of Filing |
Exhibit Number |
Filed Herewith | ||||||
4.8 | Indenture Supplement, dated as of September 26, 2006, relating to the Senior Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2005-1, by and among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Indenture Trustee, and Crown Castle Towers LLC, Crown Castle South LLC, Crown Communication Inc., Crown Castle PT Inc., Crown Communication New York, Inc. and Crown Castle International Corp. de Puerto Rico, collectively, as Issuers | 8-K | 001-16441 | September 29, 2006 | 10.1 | | ||||||
4.9 | Indenture Supplement, dated as of November 29, 2006, relating to the Senior Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2006-1, by and among The Bank of New York (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as Indenture Trustee, and Crown Castle Towers LLC, Crown Castle South LLC, Crown Communication Inc., Crown Castle PT Inc., Crown Communication New York, Inc., Crown Castle International Corp. de Puerto Rico, Crown Castle Towers 05 LLC, Crown Castle PR LLC, Crown Castle MU LLC and Crown Castle MUPA LLC, collectively, as Issuers | 8-K | 001-16441 | December 5, 2006 | 4.1 | | ||||||
4.10 | Stockholders Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2006, by and among Fortress Pinnacle Investment Fund, FRIT PINN LLC, Fortress Registered Investment Trust, FRIT Holdings LLC, FIT GSL LLC, Greenhill Capital Partners LLC, GCP SPV1, LLC, GCP SPV2, LLC, Abrams Capital International Ltd., Abrams Capital Partners I, LP, Abrams Capital Partners II, LP, Whitecrest Partners, LP, Riva Capital Partners, LP, 222 Partners, LLC and Crown Castle International Corp. | 8-K | 001-16441 | October 11, 2006 | 4.1 | | ||||||
4.11 | Form of Debt Security* | | | | | * | ||||||
4.12 | Form of Indenture between Crown Castle International Corp. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee | | | | | X | ||||||
4.13 | Form of Warrant* | | | | | * | ||||||
4.14 | Form of Warrant Agreement* | | | | | * | ||||||
5.1 | Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP | | | | | X | ||||||
12.1 | Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges | | | | | X | ||||||
23.1 | Consent of KPMG LLP | | | | | X | ||||||
23.2 | Consent of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) | | | | | X | ||||||
24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this registration statement). | | | | | X | ||||||
25.1 | Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee | | | | | X |
* | To be filed, if necessary, as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the registrant in connection with a specific offering, and incorporated herein by reference. |
EXHIBIT 4.12
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP.
as Issuer
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
as Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of ,
Table Showing Reflection in Indenture of Certain Provisions
of Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended by the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990*
Reflected in Indenture
Trust Indenture Act Section |
Indenture Section | |
310 (a) (1) |
7.10 | |
(a) (2) |
7.10 | |
(a) (3) |
N.A. | |
(a) (4) |
N.A. | |
(a) (5) |
7.10 | |
(b) |
7.10 | |
(c) |
N.A. | |
311 (a) |
7.11 | |
(b) |
7.11 | |
(c) |
N.A | |
312 (a) |
2.06 | |
(b) |
10.03 | |
(c) |
10.03 | |
313 (a) |
7.06 | |
(b) (1) |
N.A | |
(b) (2) |
7.06 | |
(c) |
7.06; 10.02 | |
(d) |
7.06 | |
314 (a) |
4.02; 4.03; 10.02 | |
(b) |
N.A. | |
(c) (1) |
10.04 | |
(c) (2) |
10.04 | |
(c) (3) |
N.A. | |
(d) |
N.A. | |
(e) |
10.05 | |
(f) |
N.A. | |
315 (a) |
7.01 | |
(b) |
7.05; 10.02 | |
(c) |
7.01 | |
(d) |
7.01 | |
(e) |
6.11 | |
316 (a) |
2.09 | |
(a) (1)(A) |
6.05 | |
(a) (1)(B) |
6.04 | |
(a) (2) |
N.A. | |
(b) |
6.07 | |
(c) |
2.13 | |
317 (a)(1) |
6.08 | |
(a) (2) |
6.09 | |
(b) |
2.05 | |
318 (a) |
10.01 | |
(b) |
N.A. | |
(c) |
10.01 |
N.A. means not applicable.
* | This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
Definitions And Incorporation By Reference
Page | ||||
SECTION 1.01. |
Definitions | 1 | ||
SECTION 1.02. |
Other Definitions | 4 | ||
SECTION 1.03. |
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 5 | ||
SECTION 1.04. |
Rules of Construction | 5 | ||
ARTICLE II | ||||
The Securities | ||||
SECTION 2.01. |
Issuable in Series | 6 | ||
SECTION 2.02. |
Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities | 6 | ||
SECTION 2.03. |
Execution and Authentication | 9 | ||
SECTION 2.04. |
Registrar and Paying Agent | 10 | ||
SECTION 2.05. |
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 10 | ||
SECTION 2.06. |
Holder Lists | 11 | ||
SECTION 2.07. |
Transfer and Exchange | 11 | ||
SECTION 2.08. |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 11 | ||
SECTION 2.09. |
Outstanding Securities | 12 | ||
SECTION 2.10. |
Treasury Securities | 13 | ||
SECTION 2.11. |
Temporary Securities | 13 | ||
SECTION 2.12. |
Cancellation | 13 | ||
SECTION 2.13. |
Defaulted Interest | 13 | ||
SECTION 2.14. |
Global Securities | 13 | ||
SECTION 2.15. |
CUSIP Numbers | 15 | ||
ARTICLE III | ||||
Redemption | ||||
SECTION 3.01. |
Notices to Trustee | 15 | ||
SECTION 3.02. |
Selection of Securities To Be Redeemed | 15 | ||
SECTION 3.03. |
Notice of Redemption | 16 | ||
SECTION 3.04. |
Effect of Notice of Redemption | 16 | ||
SECTION 3.05. |
Deposit of Redemption Price | 17 | ||
SECTION 3.06. |
Securities Redeemed in Part | 17 | ||
ARTICLE IV | ||||
Covenants | ||||
SECTION 4.01. |
Payment of Securities | 17 |
i
SECTION 4.02. |
SEC Reports | 17 | ||
SECTION 4.03. |
Compliance Certificate | 18 | ||
SECTION 4.04. |
Further Instruments and Acts | 18 | ||
ARTICLE V | ||||
Successor Companies | ||||
SECTION 5.01. |
Merger and Consolidation | 18 | ||
ARTICLE VI | ||||
Defaults And Remedies | ||||
SECTION 6.01. |
Events of Default | 19 | ||
SECTION 6.02. |
Acceleration | 20 | ||
SECTION 6.03. |
Other Remedies | 21 | ||
SECTION 6.04. |
Waiver of Past Defaults | 21 | ||
SECTION 6.05. |
Control by Majority | 21 | ||
SECTION 6.06. |
Limitation on Suits | 21 | ||
SECTION 6.07. |
Rights of Holders to Receive Payment | 22 | ||
SECTION 6.08. |
Collection Suit by Trustee | 22 | ||
SECTION 6.09. |
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 22 | ||
SECTION 6.10. |
Priorities | 23 | ||
SECTION 6.11. |
Undertaking for Costs | 23 | ||
SECTION 6.12. |
Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws | 23 | ||
ARTICLE VII | ||||
Trustee | ||||
SECTION 7.01. |
Duties of Trustee | 24 | ||
SECTION 7.02. |
Rights of Trustee | 25 | ||
SECTION 7.03. |
Individual Rights of Trustee | 26 | ||
SECTION 7.04. |
Trustees Disclaimer | 26 | ||
SECTION 7.05. |
Notice of Defaults | 26 | ||
SECTION 7.06. |
Reports by Trustee to Holder | 26 | ||
SECTION 7.07. |
Compensation and Indemnity | 26 | ||
SECTION 7.08. |
Replacement of Trustee | 27 | ||
SECTION 7.09. |
Successor Trustee by Merger | 28 | ||
SECTION 7.10. |
Eligibility; Disqualification | 28 | ||
SECTION 7.11. |
Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer | 28 | ||
ARTICLE VIII | ||||
Legal Defeasance And Covenant Defeasance | ||||
SECTION 8.01. |
Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 29 | ||
SECTION 8.02. |
Legal Defeasance and Discharge | 29 |
ii
SECTION 8.03. |
Covenant Defeasance | 30 | ||
SECTION 8.04. |
Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance | 30 | ||
SECTION 8.05. |
Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions | 32 | ||
SECTION 8.06. |
Repayment to the Issuer | 32 | ||
SECTION 8.07. |
Reinstatement | 33 | ||
ARTICLE IX | ||||
Amendments | ||||
SECTION 9.01. |
Without Consent of Holders | 33 | ||
SECTION 9.02. |
With Consent of Holders | 34 | ||
SECTION 9.03. |
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | 35 | ||
SECTION 9.04. |
Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers | 36 | ||
SECTION 9.05. |
Notation on or Exchange of Securities | 36 | ||
SECTION 9.06. |
Trustee To Sign Amendments | 36 | ||
SECTION 9.07. |
Payment for Consent | 36 | ||
ARTICLE X | ||||
Miscellaneous | ||||
SECTION 10.01. |
Trust Indenture Act Controls | 37 | ||
SECTION 10.02. |
Notices | 37 | ||
SECTION 10.03. |
Communication by Holders with Other Holders | 37 | ||
SECTION 10.04. |
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 38 | ||
SECTION 10.05. |
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 38 | ||
SECTION 10.06. |
When Securities Disregarded | 38 | ||
SECTION 10.07. |
Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar | 38 | ||
SECTION 10.08. |
Legal Holidays | 39 | ||
SECTION 10.09. |
Governing Law | 39 | ||
SECTION 10.10. |
No Recourse Against Others | 39 | ||
SECTION 10.11. |
Successors | 39 | ||
SECTION 10.12. |
Multiple Originals | 39 | ||
SECTION 10.13. |
Table of Contents; Headings | 39 | ||
SECTION 10.14. |
Severability | 39 |
iii
INDENTURE dated as of , , between
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP., a Delaware
corporation (the Issuer), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a New York
banking corporation, as trustee (the Trustee).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the securities issued under this Indenture (the Securities):
ARTICLE I
Definitions And Incorporation By Reference
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
Affiliate of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, control when used with respect to any 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.
Agent means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Issuer.
Board Resolution means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.
Business Day means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.
Capital Stock of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any preferred stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.
Closing Date means the date of this Indenture.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Corporate Trust Office means, solely for purposes of presenting Securities, The Bank of New York Mellon located at 101 Barclay Street, 7 East, New York, New York 10014 and, for all other purposes the office of the Trustee at which any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which at the date hereof is located at 601 Travis Street, 16th floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention: Corporate Trust Services, re: Crown Castle International Corp., or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).
Default means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
Definitive Securities means a certificated Security registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.
Depositary means, with respect to the Securities issuable in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified pursuant to Section 2.14 hereof as the initial Depositary with respect to the Securities, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter Depositary shall mean or include such successor.
Dollar means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debt.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Fiscal Year means the fiscal year of the Issuer, which at the date hereof ends on December 31.
Foreign Currency means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of the United States of America.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time, including those principles set forth in (i) the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, (ii) statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (iii) such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession and (iv) the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the inclusion of financial statements (including pro forma financial statements) in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.
Global Security when used with respect to any Series of Securities issued hereunder, means a Security which is executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositarys instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and an indenture supplemental hereto, if any, or Board Resolution and pursuant to an Issuer Order, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all the outstanding Securities of such Series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due, and interest rate or method of determining interest and which shall bear the legend as prescribed by Section 2.14(c).
Global Securities Legend means the legend set forth in Section 2.14(c), which is required to be placed on all Global Securities issued under this Indenture.
Government Securities means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.
Guarantee means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any
2
manner (including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness. The term Guarantor shall mean any Person Guaranteeing any obligation.
Holder means the Person in whose name a Security is registered on the Registrars books.
Indebtedness has the meaning specified in the applicable Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate relating to a particular Series of Securities.
Indenture means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.
Interest Payment Date when used with respect to any Series of Securities, means the date specified in such Securities for the payment of any installment of interest on those Securities.
Issuer means Crown Castle International Corp., a Delaware corporation, until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor and, for purposes of any provision contained herein and required by the Trust Indenture Act, each other obligor on the indenture securities.
Issuer Order means a written order signed in the name of the Issuer by two Officers of the Issuer.
Maturity, when used with respect to any Security or installment of principal thereof, means the date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise.
Officer means the Executive Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller or the Secretary of the Issuer.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by two Officers of the Issuer, that meets the requirements of Section 10.04 hereof.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion from legal counsel, that meets the requirements of Section 10.04 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer, any Subsidiary of the Issuer or the Trustee.
Original Issue Discount Security means (i) any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof and (ii) any other security which is issued with original issue discount within the meaning of Section 1273(a) of the Code.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
3
organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
Significant Subsidiary means, at any time, any Subsidiary of the Issuer which would be a Significant Subsidiary at such time, as such term is defined in Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC, as in effect on the Closing Date.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Indenture.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Securities Custodian means the custodian with respect to a Global Security (as appointed by the Depositary) or any successor thereto, who shall initially be the Trustee.
Series or Series of Securities means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Issuer created pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 hereof.
Stated Maturity, when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which an amount equal to the principal amount of such Security is due and payable.
Subsidiary of any Person means any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person, (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
Trust Indenture Act means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§77aaa77bbbb) and the rules and regulations thereunder as in effect on the Closing Date.
Trustee means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.
Trust Officer means any Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.
SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.
Term |
Defined in Section | |
Bankruptcy Law |
6.01 |
4
Term |
Defined in Section | ||
Covenant Defeasance |
8.03 | ||
Custodian |
6.01 | ||
Event of Default |
6.01 | ||
Legal Defeasance |
8.02 | ||
Legal Holiday |
10.08 | ||
Notice of Default |
6.01 | ||
Paying Agent |
2.04 | ||
Registrar |
2.04 | ||
Successor Company |
5.01 | (i) |
SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms have the following meanings:
Commission means the SEC.
indenture securities means the Securities.
indenture security holder means a Holder.
indenture to be qualified means this Indenture.
indenture trustee or institutional trustee means the Trustee.
obligor on the Securities means the Issuer and any other obligor on the Securities.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) or is not exclusive;
(4) including means including without limitation;
(5) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular; and
5
(6) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.
ARTICLE II
The Securities
SECTION 2.01. Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series as the Issuer may authorize from time to time. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters.
SECTION 2.02. Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities. At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Section 2.02(a) and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Sections 2.02(b) through 2.02(z)) by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution:
(a) the title of the Securities of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);
(b) the price or prices of the Securities of the Series;
(c) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series);
(d) the date or dates on which the principal and premium with respect to the Securities of the Series are payable;
(e) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest, if any, shall be payable or the method by which such dates will be determined, the record dates, for the determination of holders thereof to whom such interest is payable (in the case of Securities in registered form), and the basis upon which such interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
6
(f) the currency or currencies in which Securities of the Series shall be denominated, if other than Dollars, the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, where the principal, premium and interest with respect to Securities of such Series shall be payable or the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
(g) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part at the option of the Issuer or otherwise;
(h) whether Securities of the Series are to be issued as Securities in registered form or as Securities in bearer form or both and, if Securities in bearer form are to be issued, whether coupons will be attached to them, whether Securities in bearer form of the Series may be exchanged for Securities in registered form of the Series, and the circumstances under which and the places at which any such exchanges, if permitted, may be made;
(i) if any Securities of the Series are to be issued as Securities in bearer form or as one or more Global Securities representing individual Securities in bearer form of the Series, whether certain provisions for the payment of additional interest or tax redemptions shall apply; whether interest with respect to any portion of a temporary bearer Security of the Series payable with respect to any Interest Payment Date prior to the exchange of such temporary bearer Security for definitive Securities in bearer form of the Series shall be paid to any clearing organization with respect to the portion of such temporary bearer Security held for its account and, in such event, the terms and conditions (including any certification requirements) upon which any such interest payment received by a clearing organization will be credited to the Persons entitled to interest payable on such Interest Payment Date; and the terms upon which a temporary Security in bearer form may be exchanged for one or more definitive Securities in bearer form of the Series;
(j) the Issuers obligation, if any, to redeem, purchase or repay the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder of such Securities and the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;
(k) the terms, if any, upon which the Securities of the Series may be convertible into or exchanged for the Issuers common stock, preferred stock, other debt securities or warrants for common stock, preferred stock, Indebtedness or other securities of any kind and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and any other additional provisions;
7
(l) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
(m) if the amount of principal, premium or interest with respect to the Securities of the Series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
(n) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of Securities of the Series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount that will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined), and if necessary, the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars;
(o) any changes or additions to Article VIII;
(p) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02 or provable in bankruptcy;
(q) the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the Securities of the Series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the Trust Indenture Act are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this Indenture as then in effect;
(r) any addition to or change in the Events of Default with respect to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Holders of such Series of Securities to declare the principal, premium and interest, if any, on such Series of Securities due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02;
(s) if the Securities of the Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities of such Series in definitive registered form, the Depositary for such Global Security and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of the Global Securities Legend;
(t) any Trustee, authenticating agent, Paying Agent, transfer agent or Registrar;
(u) the applicability of, and any addition to or change in, the covenants and definitions set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series;
8
(v) the terms, if any, of any Guarantee of the payment of principal, premium and interest with respect to Securities of the Series and any corresponding changes to the provisions of this Indenture and as then in effect;
(w) the subordination, if any, of the Securities of the Series pursuant to this Indenture and any changes or additions to the provisions of this Indenture then in effect;
(x) with regard to Securities of the Series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee;
(y) any U.S. Federal Income tax consequences applicable to the Securities; and
(z) any other terms of Securities of the Series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).
All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate referred to above, and the authorized principal amount of any Series may not be increased to provide for issuances of additional Securities of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate.
SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication. One or more Officers of the Issuer shall sign the Securities on behalf of the Issuer by manual or facsimile signature. The Issuers seal, if any, shall be impressed, affixed, imprinted or reproduced on the Securities and may be in facsimile form.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture. A Security shall be dated the date of its authentication, unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of an Issuer Order and an Opinion of Counsel. Such Issuer Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Issuer or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series
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set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02, except as provided in Section 2.08.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Securities. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.
SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Issuer shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.02, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the Registrar) and an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented for payment (the Paying Agent). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term Paying Agent includes any additional paying agent and the term Registrar includes any co-registrars. The Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for each Series of Securities unless another Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.
The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the Trust Indenture Act. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Issuer or any of its domestically organized Significant Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Issuer may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (1) acceptance of any appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuer and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (2) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (1) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice; provided, however, that the Trustee may resign as Registrar or Paying Agent only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.08.
SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Holders of any Series of Securities, or the
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Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Holders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
SECTION 2.06. Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders of each Series of Securities.
SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange. Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrars request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06 or 9.05).
Neither the Issuer nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
SECTION 2.08. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or
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indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Issuer or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Issuer may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Securities. The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the Paying Agent holds at the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities of any Series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such
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determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.
SECTION 2.10. Treasury Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Issuer shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 2.11. Temporary Securities. Until Definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, shall authenticate temporary Securities upon the Issuers Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Securities but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, shall authenticate Definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary Securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the Definitive Securities.
SECTION 2.12. Cancellation. The Issuer at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Issuer, unless the Issuer otherwise directs. The Issuer may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid for or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.13. Defaulted Interest. If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Holders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Issuer shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 30 days before the record date, the Issuer shall mail to the Trustee and to each Holder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Issuer may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
SECTION 2.14. Global Securities.
(a) Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.
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(b) Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.07 of this Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.07 of this Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Issuer fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days of such event, (ii) the Issuer executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented by such Global Security shall have happened and be continuing. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14(b) a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.
(c) Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SECURITY) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 9.05 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.12 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SECURITY).
(d) Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under this Indenture.
(e) Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.
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(f) Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.14(e), the Issuer, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.
SECTION 2.15. CUSIP Numbers. The Issuer in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
ARTICLE III
Redemption
SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee. The Issuer, with respect to any Series of Securities, may elect to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms provided for in such Series of Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Issuer wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Securities of the Series to be redeemed and the redemption price. The Issuer shall give such notice to the Trustee at least 30 days before the redemption date unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period.
SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities To Be Redeemed. Unless otherwise provided for a particular Series of Securities by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate, if fewer than all the Securities of a particular Series are to be redeemed or purchased, the Trustee shall select the Securities of such Series to be redeemed or purchased pro rata or by lot or by a method that complies with applicable legal and securities exchange requirements, if any, and that the Trustee in its sole discretion shall deem to be fair and appropriate and in accordance with methods generally used at the time of selection by fiduciaries in similar circumstances. The Trustee shall make the selection at least 30 days but no more than 60 days before the redemption date from outstanding Securities of a Series not previously called for redemption. Securities and portions thereof that the Trustee selects shall be in principal amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer of the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed.
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SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption. Unless otherwise provided for a particular Series of Securities by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a date for redemption of Securities, the Issuer shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holders registered address.
The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:
(1) the redemption date;
(2) the redemption price;
(3) if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Security;
(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(5) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(6) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(7) the paragraph of the Securities and/or provision of this Indenture pursuant to which the Securities called for redemption are being redeemed;
(8) the CUSIP or ISIN number, if any, printed on the Securities being redeemed; and
(9) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or ISIN number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.
At the Issuers request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption as provided to it in the Issuers name and at the Issuers expense. In such event, the Issuer shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section.
SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice.
Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.
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SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Securities to be redeemed on that date, other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption that have been delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee for cancellation. The Paying Agent shall as promptly as practicable return to the Issuer any money deposited with it by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Securities to be redeemed. If such money is then held by the Issuer in trust and is not required for such purpose it shall be discharged from such trust. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.
SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder (at the Issuers expense) a new Security equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE IV
Covenants
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Securities. The Issuer shall promptly make all payments in respect of each Series of Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in such Series of Securities and in this Indenture. Such payments shall be considered made on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, money sufficient to make all payments with respect to such Securities then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 4.02. SEC Reports. Unless otherwise provided for a particular Series of Securities in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate, notwithstanding that the Issuer may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall file with the SEC, and provide the Trustee and Holders within 30 days after it files them with the SEC, copies of its annual report and the information, documents and other reports that are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustees receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers Certificates). The Issuer also shall comply with the other provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a).
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SECTION 4.03. Compliance Certificate. The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Issuer an Officers Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as Officers of the Issuer they would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Issuer also shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a)(4).
SECTION 4.04. Further Instruments and Acts. The Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Trustee such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.
ARTICLE V
Successor Companies
SECTION 5.01. Merger and Consolidation. Unless otherwise provided for a particular Series of Securities in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate, the Issuer shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its properties and assets to, any Person unless:
(i) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the Successor Company) shall be a corporation or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor Company (if not the Issuer) shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Issuer under the Securities and this Indenture;
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(iii) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.
The Successor Company shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Indenture (as modified or supplemented by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate), and the predecessor Issuer, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its assets, shall be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities.
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ARTICLE VI
Defaults And Remedies
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. Unless otherwise provided for a particular Series of Securities by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate, each of the following constitutes an Event of Default with respect to each Series of Securities:
(1) the Issuers default in any payment of the principal amount or premium, if any, on any Security of that Series when such amount becomes due and payable at Stated Maturity, upon acceleration, required redemption or otherwise;
(2) the Issuers failure to pay interest on any Security of that Series when such interest becomes due and payable, and such failure continues for a period of 30 days;
(3) the Issuer fails to comply with Section 5.01;
(4) the Issuer fails to comply with any of its covenants or agreements contained in the Securities of that Series or this Indenture (other than those referred to in (1), (2), or (3) above) and such failure continues for 60 days after the notice specified below;
(5) the Issuer or Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(A) commences a voluntary case;
(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;
(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or
(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(A) is for relief against the Issuer or Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;
(B) appoints a Custodian of the Issuer or Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or
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(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Issuer or Significant Subsidiary or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days.
The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is 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.
The term Bankruptcy Law means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term Custodian means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
A Default under clause (4) above is not an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series notify the Issuer of the Default and the Issuer does not cure such Default within the time specified in clause (4) after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a Notice of Default.
The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers Certificate of any event which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become an Event of Default under clause (4), its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities at the time outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(5) or (6) with respect to the Issuer) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series by notice to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if such notice is given by the Holders), may declare the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Security), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that Series to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such amounts shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(5) or (6) with respect to the Issuer occurs, the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Security), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of each Series of Security shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series of Securities by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration of that Series of Securities and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default with respect to such Series of Securities have been cured or waived except nonpayment of the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Security), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all Securities of that Series that has become due solely because of acceleration. No
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such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.
SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Security), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of that Series or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities of that Series or this Indenture.
The Trustee may institute and maintain a suit or legal proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities of a Series or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any Series then outstanding may by notice to the Trustee waive an existing Default and its consequences except (i) a Default in the payment of the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Security), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on a Security of that Series, (ii) a Default arising from the failure to redeem or purchase any Security of that Series when required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or (iii) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder of that Series affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.
SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to that Series. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of that Series or that would subject the Trustee to personal liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Security), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on a Security of any Series when due, no Holder of a
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Security of that Series may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities of that Series unless:
(1) the Holder previously gave the Trustee written notice stating that an Event of Default with respect to that Series is continuing;
(2) the Holders of at least 25%, in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) such Holder or Holders of that Series offer to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;
(4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request during such 60-day period.
A Holder of Securities of any Series may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of that Series or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of that Series.
SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Security), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities held by such Holder, on or after their Maturity, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after their Maturity, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07 to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses disbursement and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel.
SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, their creditors or their property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
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the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.
SECTION 6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article VI with respect to any Series of Securities, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:
FIRST: costs and expenses of collection, including all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the compensation, expenses and disbursements of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.7;
SECOND: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities of that Series for the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Security), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities of that Series for the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Security), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, respectively; and
THIRD: to the Issuer.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder and the Issuer a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.
SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing, by any party litigant in the suit, of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities of any Series.
SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Issuer (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim to take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
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ARTICLE VII
Trustee
SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any Series of Securities, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture 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 such Persons own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities:
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that Series, as modified or supplemented by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of that Series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or, not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (g) of this Section.
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer.
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(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.
(h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee. (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good, faith in reliance on the Officers Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents or attorneys and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided, however, that the Trustees conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Securities, shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document.
(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any Series unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received from the Issuer or any Holders of such Securities by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references such Securities and this Indenture.
(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to and
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shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(i) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Trustee in compliance with such request or direction.
(j) The Trustee may from time to time request that the Issuer deliver an Officers Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to the Indenture, which Officers Certificate may be signed by any persons authorized to sign an Officers Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(k) The permissive right of the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty to so act.
SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
SECTION 7.04. Trustees Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers use of the proceeds from the Securities, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent (other than itself as Paying Agent), and it shall not be responsible for any statement in this Indenture, in the Securities, or in any document executed in connection with the sale of the Securities, other than those set forth in the Trustees certificate of authentication.
SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default with respect to Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Trust Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder of that Series notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default with respect to Securities of any Series in payment of the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Security), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on any Security of that Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders.
SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holder. As promptly as practicable after each May 15 beginning with the first May 15 after the issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, for so long as Securities remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall also comply with Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Securities are listed. The Issuer agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Securities become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its services as the Issuer and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustees compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall
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reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, costs of preparation and mailing of notices to Holders and reasonable costs of counsel retained by the Trustee in connection with the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel or otherwise in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustees agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys fees) incurred by or in connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing the Indenture (including this Section 7.7) and of defending itself against any claims (whether asserted by any Holder, the Issuer or otherwise). The Trustee shall notify the Issuer of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided, however, that any failure so to notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by an indemnified party through such partys own willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith.
To secure the Issuers payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay the principal of and interest and any liquidated damages on particular Securities.
The Issuers payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any bankruptcy law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee. When the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(5) or (6) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of any Series by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee with respect to such Series of Securities. The Issuer shall remove the Trustee if:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;
(3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Issuer or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights,
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powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of that Series of Securities. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 10% in principal amount of the Securities of that Series may petition, at the expense of the Issuer, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, after written notice hereto, the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of that Series of Securities may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuers obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate-trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and if at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any such successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(a). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuer are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b)(1) are met.
SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer. The Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or
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has been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.
ARTICLE VIII
Legal Defeasance And Covenant Defeasance
SECTION 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Issuer may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by resolutions set forth in an Officers Certificate, at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Securities of any Series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.
Unless otherwise provided for in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate, when (a) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a Series or (b) all outstanding Securities of a Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and the Issuer shall have deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption of all outstanding Securities of the Series, and if, in either case, the Issuer shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable under the Indenture by the Issuer, then the Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to such Securities of such Series. The Trustee shall acknowledge satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture on demand of the Issuer accompanied by an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Issuer.
SECTION 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Issuers exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02 with respect to any Series of Securities, the Issuer shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities of that Series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, Legal Defeasance). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities of that Series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be outstanding only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture with respect to such Securities of such Series (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities of that Series to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities when such payment are due;
(b) the Issuers obligations with respect to such Securities of that Series under Article II;
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(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers obligations in connection therewith; and
(d) this Article VIII.
Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.
SECTION 8.03. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Issuers exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 with respect to any Series of Securities, the Issuer shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate with respect to the outstanding Securities of that Series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, Covenant Defeasance), and the Securities of that Series shall thereafter be deemed not outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed outstanding for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities of that Series, the Issuer may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to such Securities under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof with respect to any Series of Securities, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof and Sections 6.01(3) and 6.01(4) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default with respect to such Securities.
SECTION 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Securities:
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to any Series of Securities:
(1) the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of that Series of Securities, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Securities of that Series on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be;
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(2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:
(a) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
(b) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Securities of that Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Securities of that Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default with respect to that Series of Securities shall have occurred and be continuing either:
(a) on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default with respect to that Series of Securities resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit); or
(b) insofar as Sections 6.01(5) or 6.01(6) hereof are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;
(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries are a party or by which the Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries are bound;
(6) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that on the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally;
(7) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of preferring the Holders of that Series of Securities over any other creditors of the Issuer or with
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the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Issuer or others; and
(8) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
SECTION 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the Trustee) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of any outstanding Series of Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Securities of that Series.
Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the request of the Issuer any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
SECTION 8.06. Repayment to the Issuer. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on their request or (if then held by the Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuer cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which
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shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.
SECTION 8.07. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 thereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers obligations under this Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders. The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without notice to or consent of any Holder:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Issuer pursuant to Article V and the assumption by such successor of the Issuers covenants, agreements and obligations in this Indenture and in the Securities;
(2) to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer by this Indenture, to add to the covenants of the Issuer such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the Holders of all or any Series of Securities as the Boards of Directors of the Issuer shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of such Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in respect of any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a Default or an Event of Default under this Indenture; provided, however, that with respect to any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision, such amendment may provide for a period of grace after default, which may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults, may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such Default, may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such Default or may limit the right of Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any Series to waive such default;
(3) to cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision contained in this Indenture, in any supplemental indenture or in any Securities that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained therein;
(4) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions
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arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holders of Securities of any Series;
(5) to modify or amend this Indenture in such a manner as to permit the qualification of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture under the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect;
(6) to add or to change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Securities in bearer form may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal or premium with respect to Securities in registered form or of principal, premium or interest with respect to Securities in bearer form, or to permit Securities in registered form to be exchanged for Securities in bearer form, so as to not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities or any coupons of any Series in any material respect or permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities of any Series in uncertificated form;
(7) in the case of subordinated Securities, to make any change in the provisions of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture relating to subordination that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of senior Indebtedness under such provisions (but only if each such holder of senior Indebtedness consents to such change);
(8) to add Guarantees with respect to the Securities or to secure the Securities;
(9) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder;
(10) to add to, change, or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture with respect to one or more Series of Securities, so long as any such addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under this Indenture shall (A) neither apply to any Security of any Series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor modify the rights of the Holders of any such Security with respect to the benefit of such provision or (B) become effective only when there is no such Security outstanding;
(11) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of this Indenture by more than one Trustee; or
(12) to establish the form or terms of Securities and coupons of any Series pursuant to Article II.
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders. The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities of any Series without notice to any Holder but
34
with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each Series then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Securities) affected by such amendment. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment may not:
(1) make any change to the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any amendment, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture;
(2) reduce the principal amount of, premium, if any, or interest on, or extend the Stated Maturity or interest payment periods of any Security;
(3) make any Security payable in money or securities other than that stated in the Security;
(4) make any change that adversely affects such Holders right to require the Issuer to purchase the Securities in accordance with the terms thereof and this Indenture;
(5) impair the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment with respect to the Securities;
(6) in the case of any subordinated Securities, or coupons appertaining thereto, make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to subordination that adversely affects the rights of any Holder under such provisions;
(7) except as provided under Article VIII hereof or in accordance with the terms of any Guarantee, release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Guarantee or make any change in a Guarantee that would adversely affect the Holder of the Securities; or
(8) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 or the second sentence of this Section 9.02.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to all affected Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.
SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
35
SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers. A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holders Security, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holders Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective once both (i) the requisite number of consents have been received by the Issuer or the Trustee and (ii) such amendment or waiver has been executed by the Issuer and the Trustee.
The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.
SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determines, the Issuer in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment.
SECTION 9.06. Trustee To Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity satisfactory to it and to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03).
SECTION 9.07. Payment for Consent. Neither the Issuer nor any Affiliate of the Issuer shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Securities unless such consideration is offered to be paid to all Holders of such Series of Securities,
36
ratably, that so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous
SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, the required provision shall control.
SECTION 10.02. Notices. Any notice or communication shall be in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:
If to the Issuer:
Crown Castle International Corp.
1220 Augusta Drive
Suite 500
Houston, TX 77057
Fax: (713) 570-3150
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Fax: (212) 474-3700
Attention: Stephen L. Burns, Esq.
If to the Trustee:
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
601 Travis Street, 16th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Fax: (713) 483-6959
Attention: Corporate Trust Services, re: Crown Castle International Corp.
The Issuer or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed to the Holder at the Holders address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b) with other
37
Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).
SECTION 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee:
(1) an Officers Certificate of the Issuer in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(1) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.
SECTION 10.06. When Securities Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Issuer, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.
SECTION 10.07. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.
38
SECTION 10.08. Legal Holidays. A Legal Holiday is a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York State are authorized or required by law to close. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.
SECTION 10.09. Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
SECTION 10.10. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee or shareholder, as such, of the Issuer shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Holder shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.
SECTION 10.11. Successors. All agreements of the Issuer in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
SECTION 10.12. Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy of the Indenture is enough to prove this Indenture.
SECTION 10.13. Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 10.14. Severability. If any provision in this Indenture is deemed unenforceable, it shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision set forth herein, or of the Indenture as a whole.
SECTION 10.15. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLE WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUR OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
SECTION 10.16. Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
39
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP., | ||
By: | ||
Name: Title: |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee | ||
By: | ||
Name: Title: |
40
Exhibit 5.1
January 16, 2009
Crown Castle International Corp.
Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Crown Castle International Corp., a Delaware corporation (the Company), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the Registration Statement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), relating to the registration under the Securities Act and the proposed issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of debt securities (Debt Securities) of the Company to be issued under an Indenture (the Indenture), to be entered into between the Company and a trustee (the Trustee), preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Preferred Stock) of the Company, common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock) of the Company, including Common Stock as may from time to time be issued upon conversion of Debt Securities or Preferred Stock, and warrants to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, or Common Stock (the Warrants) of the Company (the Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock and Warrants are collectively referred to herein as the Securities).
In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such corporate records, certificates of corporate officers and government officials and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion, including: (a) the amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company; (b) the amended and restated By-laws of the Company; (c) resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Company on December 11, 2008; (d) the Registration Statement; and (e) the form of Indenture to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. As to various questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon representations of officers or directors of the Company and documents furnished to us by the Company without independent verification of their accuracy. We have also assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and assuming that (i) the Registration Statement and any supplements and amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective and will comply with all applicable laws; (ii) the Registration Statement will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement; (iii) a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and will comply with all applicable laws; (iv) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the appropriate prospectus supplement; (v) none of the terms of any Security to be established subsequent to the date hereof, nor the issuance and delivery of such Security, nor the compliance by the Company with the terms of such Security will violate any applicable law or will result in a violation of any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding upon the Company or any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; (vi) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and any other necessary agreement with respect to any Securities offered or issued will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; and (vii) any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, or exercise of any Security being offered or issued will be duly authorized, created, and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, or exercise, we are of opinion that:
(1) with respect to Debt Securities to be issued under the Indenture, when (A) the Trustee is qualified to act as Trustee under the Indenture, (B) the Trustee has duly executed and delivered the Indenture, (C) the Indenture has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee, (D) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (E) the board of directors of the Company, a duly constituted and acting committee thereof or any officers of the Company delegated such authority (such board of directors, committee or officers being hereinafter referred to as the Board) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of a particular series of
Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, and (F) such Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued, and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, such Debt Securities will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally from time to time in effect and subject to general principles of equity, including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(2) with respect to shares of Preferred Stock, when (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of a particular series of Preferred Stock, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, including the adoption of a Certificate of Designation relating to such Preferred Stock (a Certificate) and the filing of such Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (B) such Certificate has been properly filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware and (C) certificates representing such shares of Preferred Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock), then such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;
(3) with respect to shares of Common Stock, when both (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of and the terms of the offering of (i) the Debt Securities or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock and (ii) the shares of Common Stock, and related matters and (B) certificates representing the shares of Common Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement approved by the Board or such officers upon payment of the consideration therefor (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Common Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of such Debt Security or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Common Stock), then the shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and
(4) with respect to the Warrants, when (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Warrants, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, (B) a warrant agreement or agreements relating to the Warrants have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company, the warrant agent appointed by the Company and each other party thereto, and (C) the Warrants or certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, registered, and delivered in accordance with the appropriate warrant agreement or agreements and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement approved by the Board or such officers upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, the Warrants will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, or other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally from time to time in effect and subject to general principles of equity, including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
We express no opinion herein as to any provision of the Indenture or the Debt Securities that (a) relates to the subject matter jurisdiction of any Federal court of the United States of America, or any Federal appellate court, to adjudicate any controversy related thereto, (b) contains a waiver of an inconvenient forum, (c) relates to the waiver of rights to jury trial or (d) provides for indemnification, contribution or limitations on liability. We also express no opinion as to (i) the enforceability of the provisions of the Indenture or the Debt Securities to the extent that such provisions constitute a waiver of illegality as a defense to performance of contract obligations or any other defense to performance which cannot, as a matter of law, be effectively waived, (ii) whether a state court outside the State of New York or a Federal court of the United States would give effect to the choice of New York law provided for therein or (iii) the effect of any provision in the amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company of the type permitted by Section 102(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Courts in the United States have not customarily rendered judgments for money damages denominated in any currency other than United States dollars. Section 27(b) of the Judiciary Law of the State of New York provides, however, that a judgment or decree in an action based upon an obligation denominated in a currency other than United States dollars shall be rendered in the foreign currency of the underlying obligation and converted into United States dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of the entry of the judgment or decree. We express no opinion as to whether a Federal court would render a judgment other than in United States dollars.
We are admitted to practice only in the State of New York and express no opinion as to matters governed by any laws other than the laws of the State of New York, the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Federal laws of the United States of America.
We understand that we may be referred to as counsel who has passed upon the validity of the Debt Securities and the issuance of the Preferred Stock, Common Stock or Warrants on behalf of the Company in the prospectus and in a supplement to the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, and we hereby consent to such use of our name in said Registration Statement and to the use of this opinion for filing with said Registration Statement as Exhibit 5.1 thereto. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours, |
/s/ CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE LLP |
Crown Castle International Corp.
1220 Augusta Drive, Suite 500
Houston, Texas 77057
Attention of E. Blake Hawk, Esq.
Exhibit 12.1
Crown Castle International Corp.
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
(Dollars in Thousands)
Years Ended December 31, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||
Computation of earnings: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle |
$ | (462,448 | ) | $ | (306,632 | ) | $ | (392,043 | ) | $ | (48,373 | ) | $ | (317,003 | ) | $ | (72,120 | ) | ||||||
Add: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed charges (as computed below) |
300,460 | 250,077 | 178,982 | 211,188 | 454,731 | 344,486 | ||||||||||||||||||
Subtract: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest capitalized |
| | | (1,295 | ) | (1,406 | ) | | ||||||||||||||||
$ | (161,988 | ) | $ | (56,555 | ) | $ | (213,061 | ) | $ | 161,520 | $ | 136,322 | $ | 272,366 | ||||||||||
Computation of fixed charges and combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
$ | 186,675 | $ | 197,258 | $ | 126,646 | $ | 153,722 | $ | 329,610 | $ | 249,453 | ||||||||||||
Amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized interest expense related to indebtedness and dividends on preferred stock |
72,159 | 9,512 | 7,160 | 8,606 | 20,649 | 16,587 | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest capitalized |
| | | 1,295 | 1,406 | | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest component of operating lease expense |
41,626 | 43,307 | 45,176 | 47,565 | 103,066 | 78,446 | ||||||||||||||||||
Fixed charges |
300,460 | 250,077 | 178,982 | 211,188 | 454,731 | 344,486 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends on preferred stock and losses on purchases of preferred stock |
55,897 | 38,618 | 49,356 | 20,806 | 20,805 | 15,604 | ||||||||||||||||||
Combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends |
$ | 356,357 | $ | 288,695 | $ | 228,338 | $ | 231,994 | $ | 475,536 | $ | 360,090 | ||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Deficiency of earnings to cover fixed charges |
$ | 462,448 | $ | 306,632 | $ | 392,043 | $ | 49,668 | $ | 318,409 | $ | 72,120 | ||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Deficiency of earnings to cover combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends |
$ | 518,345 | $ | 345,250 | $ | 441,399 | $ | 70,474 | $ | 339,214 | $ | 87,724 | ||||||||||||
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors
Crown Castle International Corp.:
We consent to the use of our reports dated February 26, 2008, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Crown Castle International Corp. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), cash flows, and stockholders equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, the related financial statement schedule, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm under the heading Experts in the prospectus.
Our report on the consolidated financial statements referred to above states that, in 2005, the Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement ObligationsAn Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143, and, in 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income TaxesAn Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, effective January 1, 2007.
/s/ KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
January 13, 2009
Exhibit 25.1
Registration No. 333-
FORM T-1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) ¨
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
95-3571558 | ||
(State of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank) |
(I.R.S. employer identification no.) |
700 South Flower Street Suite 500 Los Angeles, California |
90017 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
Crown Castle International Corp.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 76-0470458 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. employer identification no.) |
1220 Augusta Drive, Suite 500 Houston, Texas |
77057 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
1. | General information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee: |
(a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Name |
Address | |
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury |
Washington, D.C. 20219 | |
Federal Reserve Bank |
San Francisco, California 94105 | |
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
Washington, D.C. 20429 |
(b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes.
2. | Affiliations with Obligor. |
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None.
16. | List of Exhibits. |
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the Act) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).
1. | A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875). |
2. | A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948). |
3. | A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875). |
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4. | A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875). |
6. | The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875). |
7. | A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Houston, and State of Texas, on the 12th day of January, 2009.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. | ||
By: | /s/ Brian Echausse | |
Name: Title: |
Brian Echausse Assistant Treasurer |
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Report of Condition
Consolidating domestic subsidiaries of
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
in the State of CA, at the close of business on September 30, 2008
Statement of Resources and Liabilities
Dollar Amounts in Thousands | ||||
ASSETS |
||||
Cash and balances due from depository institutions: |
||||
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin |
8,169 | |||
Interest-bearing balances |
0 | |||
Securities: |
||||
Held-to-maturity securities |
26 | |||
Available-for-sale securities |
399,634 | |||
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell: |
||||
Federal funds sold |
3,800 | |||
Securities purchased under agreements to resell |
60,000 | |||
Loans and lease financing receivables: |
||||
Loans and leases held for sale |
0 | |||
Loans and leases, net of unearned income |
0 | |||
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses |
0 | |||
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance |
0 | |||
Trading Assets |
0 | |||
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) |
11,218 | |||
Other real estate owned |
0 | |||
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies |
0 | |||
Intangible assets: |
||||
Goodwill |
876,153 | |||
Other intangible assets |
279,623 | |||
Other assets |
150,704 | |||
Total assets |
1,789,327 | |||
LIABILITIES |
||||
Deposits: |
||||
In domestic offices |
1,047 | |||
Noninterest-bearing |
1,047 | |||
Interest-bearing |
0 | |||
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase: |
||||
Federal funds purchased |
0 | |||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase |
0 | |||
Trading liabilities |
0 | |||
Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases) |
268,691 | |||
Subordinated notes and debentures |
0 | |||
Other liabilities |
141,035 | |||
Total liabilities |
410,773 | |||
Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries |
0 | |||
EQUITY CAPITAL |
||||
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus |
0 |
Common stock |
1,000 | |||
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) |
1,121,520 | |||
Retained earnings |
253,204 | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
2,830 | |||
Other equity capital components |
0 | |||
Total equity capital |
1,378,554 | |||
Total liabilities, minority interest, and equity capital |
1,789,327 |
I, Karen Bayz, Vice President of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.
Director #1 Director #2 Director #3 |
Michael K. Klugman, President Frank Sulzberger, Managing Director William D. Lindelof, Vice President |
/s/ Michael K. Klugman /s/ Frank Sulzberger /s/ William D. Lindelof |