1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 November 25, 1996 --------------------------------- (Date of earliest event reported) THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION Allstate Financing I ------------------------------------------------------ (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-11840 36-3871531 Delaware 1-14484 Applied For - -------------- --------------------- ------------------ (State of (Commission File No.) (IRS Employer Incorporation) Identification No.) 2775 Sanders Road, Northbrook, IL 60062 ------------------------------------------------------------ (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) (847) 402-5000 ---------------------------------------------------- (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) None ------------------------------------------------------------- (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) 2 ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS On August 27, 1996, The Allstate Corporation (the "Company") and Allstate Financing I, Allstate Financing II, Allstate Financing III and Allstate Financing IV filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-10857). Such Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission on October 1, 1996. On November 25, 1996, Allstate Financing I issued 20,000,000 7.95% Cumulative Quarterly Preferred Securities, Series A, guaranteed to the extent provided in the Registration Statement by the Company. On November 27, 1996, Allstate Financing I issued 2,000,000 7.95% Cumulative Quarterly Preferred Securities, Series A, guaranteed to the extent provided in the Registration Statement by the Company. The sole assets of Allstate Financing I are $567,010,325 of 7.95% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A, of the Company. This form 8-K includes as exhibits conformed copies of the definitive Indenture, Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Allstate Financing I, First Supplemental Indenture, Preferred Securities Guarantee, form of the Company's 7.95% Junior Subordinated Debenture, form of Allstate Financing I's Preferred Security and form of Underwriting Agreement. These exhibits are being filed herewith for purposes of incorporation by reference, pursuant to Rule 12b-32(c) under the Security Act of 1934, in the Registration Statement. (c) Exhibits. Exhibit Number by Reference to Item Description 601 of Regulation 8-K 4.1 Indenture dated as of November 25, 1996 between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee. 4.2 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of November 25, 1996 among Joseph T. Kane and Jennifer M Hager, as Regular Trustees, Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc., as Delaware Trustee, State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Property Trustee and the Company. 3 4.3 First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 25, 1996 between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee. 4.4 Preferred Security Guarantee dated as of November 25, 1996 between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Preferred Guarantee Trustee. 4.5 Form of 7.95% Junior Subordinated Deferable Interest Debenture (included as an exhibit in Exhibit 4.3 above). 4.6 Form of Preferred Security (included as an exhibit in Exhibit 4.2 above). 4.7 Form of Underwriting Agreement (included as an exhibit in Exhibit 4.2 above). 8.1 Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Illinois), as to certain United States tax matters. 3 4 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, The Allstate Corporation and Allstate Financing I have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION By: /s/ James P. Zils Name: James P. Zils Title: Treasurer ALLSTATE FINANCING I By: /s/Joseph T. Kane Name: Joseph T. Kane, as Regular Trustee December 6, 1996 4 5 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description - -------------- ----------- 4.1 Indenture dated as of November 25, 1996 between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee. 4.2 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of November 25, 1996 among Joseph T. Kane and Jennifer M Hager, as Regular Trustees, Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc., as Delaware Trustee, State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Property Trustee and the Company. 4.3 First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 25, 1996 between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee. 4.4 Preferred Security Guarantee dated as of November 25, 1996 between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Preferred Guarantee Trustee. 4.5 Form of 7.95% Junior Subordinated Deferable Interest Debenture (included as an exhibit in Exhibit 4.3 above). 4.6 Form of 5 6 Preferred Security (included as an exhibit in Exhibit 4.2 above). 4.7 Form of Underwriting Agreement (included as an exhibit in Exhibit 4.2 above). 8.1 Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Illinois), as to certain United States tax matters. 6
1 Exhibit 4.1 ================================================================================ THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION TO STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY Trustee ___________________ INDENTURE SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES Dated as of November 25, 1996 ___________________ ================================================================================ 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ________________ NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
Page - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PARTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 RECITALS OF THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION SECTION 101. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Additional Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Additional Sums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Additional Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Affiliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 AIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Allstate Trusts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Authenticating Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Board Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Business Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Common Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Common Securities Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Company Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Corporate Trust Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Covenant Defeasance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Defaulted Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Defeasance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Depositary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Event of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Exchange Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Expiration Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Extension Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Global Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Interest Payment Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Investment Company Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3 ________________ NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture. ii
Page ---- Investment Company Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Maturity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Notice of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Officers' Certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Opinion of Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Original Issue Discount Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Place of Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Predecessor Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Preferred Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Preferred Securities Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Redemption Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Redemption Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Regular Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Responsible Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Securities Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Security Register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Special Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Special Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Stated Maturity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Subsidiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Tax Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Trust Indenture Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Trust Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 U.S. Government Obligation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 SECTION 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 110. Separability Clause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SECTION 112. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SECTION 113. Legal Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SECTION 114. Computations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 4 ________________ NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture. iii
Page ---- ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS SECTION 201. Forms Generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 SECTION 202. Form of Legend for Global Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 SECTION 203. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 SECTION 302. Denominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 ======= SECTION 304. Temporary Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 SECTION 309. Cancellation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 SECTION 310. Computation of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 SECTION 311. Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 ======= SECTION 312. Right of Set-Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 SECTION 313. Agreed Tax Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 SECTION 314. Shortening or Extension of Stated Maturity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES SECTION 501. Events of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 5 ________________ NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture. iv
Page ---- SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 SECTION 512. Control by Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 SECTION 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 SECTION 605. May Hold Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 SECTION 608. Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 SECTION 704. Reports by Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 6 ________________ NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture. v
Page ---- ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 SECTION 802. Successor Substituted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 SECTION 1005. Existence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 SECTION 1008. Limitation on Dividends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 SECTION 1009. Covenants as to Allstate Trusts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 SECTION 1010. Additional Sums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 SECTION 1011. Waiver of Certain Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 7 Page ________________ NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture. vi
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 SECTION 1108. Right of Redemption of Securities Issued to an Allstate Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 ARTICLE THIRTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE SECTION 1301. Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 SECTION 1302. Defeasance and Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 SECTION 1303. Covenant Defeasance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 SECTION 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 SECTION 1305. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 SECTION 1306. Reinstatement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 ARTICLE FOURTEEN SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES SECTION 1401. Agreement to Subordinate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 SECTION 1402. Default on Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 SECTION 1403. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 SECTION 1404. Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 SECTION 1405. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 SECTION 1406. Notice by the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 SECTION 1407. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 SECTION 1408. Subordination May Not Be Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 8 [TO BE UPDATED] ................................................................................ CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318, INCLUSIVE, OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939: ________________ Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
TRUST INDENTURE INDENTURE ACT Section SECTION 310(A)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 609 (A)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 609 (A)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NOT APPLICABLE (A)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NOT APPLICABLE (B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 608 610 311(A) 613 (B) 613 312(A) 701 702 (B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 702 (C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 702 313(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703 (B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703 (C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703 (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703 314(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704 (A)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 1004 (B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NOT APPLICABLE (C)(l) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 (C)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 (C)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NOT APPLICABLE (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NOT APPLICABLE (E) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 315(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 601 (B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 602 (C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 601 (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 601 (E) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514 316(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 (A)(l)(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 502 512 (A)(l)(B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513 (A)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NOT APPLICABLE (B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508 (C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 317(A)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503 (A)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504 (B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1003 318(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 9 INDENTURE, dated as of November 25, 1996, between The Allstate Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at 2775 Sanders Road, Northbrook, Illinois, and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a trust company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee"). RECITALS OF THE COMPANY The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its subordinated unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the "Securities"), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, including, without limitation, Securities to be issued and sold from time to time to one or more Allstate Trusts (as defined herein). All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done. NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH: For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows: ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION SECTION 101. Definitions. For all purposes of this indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires: (1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular; (2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein; (3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term "generally accepted accounting princi- 10 ples" with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted at the date of such computation; (4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an "Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture; and (5) the words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. "Act," when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104. "Additional Interest" means the interest, if any, that shall accrue on any interest on the Securities of any series the payment of which has not been made on the applicable Interest Payment Date and which shall accrue at the rate per annum specified or determined as specified in such Security. "Additional Sums" has the meaning specified in Section 1010. "Additional Taxes" means the sum of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which an Allstate Trust has become subject from time to time as a result of a Tax Event. "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person, provided, however, that an Affiliate of the Company shall not be deemed to include any Allstate Trust to which Securities have been issued. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. "AIC" means Allstate Insurance Company, an insurance company duly organized and existing under the insurance laws of the State of Illinois, or any Person successor thereto. "Allstate Trusts" means, collectively, Allstate Financing I, Allstate Financing II, Allstate Financing III and Allstate Financing IV, each a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing preferred securities in connection with the issuance of Securities under this Indenture. "Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series. 2 11 "Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board. "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee. "Business Day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York, Chicago, Illinois or any Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time. "Common Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of an Allstate Trust which rank pari passu with Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights of holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of Preferred Securities. "Common Securities Guarantee" means any guarantee that the Company may enter into with any Person or Persons that operate directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Common Securities of such Allstate Trust. "Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall mean such successor Person. "Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee. "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered. "corporation" means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust. "Covenant Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1303. 3 12 "Declaration," with respect to an Allstate Trust, means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of such Allstate Trust. "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307. "Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1302. "Depositary" means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301. "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 501. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time. "Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 104. "Extension Period" has the meaning specified in Section 311. "Global Security" means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 202 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities). "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register. "Indebtedness" of any person means the principal of and premium, if any, and interest due on indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, which is (a) indebtedness for money borrowed, and (b) any amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness. For the purposes of this definition, "indebtedness for money borrowed" means (i) any obligation of, or any obligation guaranteed by, such Person for the repayment of borrowed money, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other written instruments, (ii) any obligation of, or any such obligation guaranteed by, such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar written instruments, including obligations assumed or incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses (provided, however, that the deferred purchase price of any other business or property or assets shall not be considered Indebtedness if the purchase price thereof is payable in full within 90 days from the date on which such indebtedness was created), and (iii) any obligations of such Person as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles and leases of property or assets made as part of any sale and lease-back transaction to which such Person is a party. 4 13 "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term "Indenture" shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301. "Interest," when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity. "Interest Payment Date," when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an instalment of interest on such Security. "Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time. "Investment Company Event," with respect to any Allstate Trust, means the receipt by such Allstate Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority (a "Change in 1940 Act Law"), such Allstate Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes effective on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust. "Maturity," when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an instalment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise. "Notice of Default" means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(4) or 501(5). "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to Section 1004 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company. "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for (and an employee of) the Company, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. 5 14 "Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502. "Outstanding," when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except: (1) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; (2) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; (3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 1302; and (4) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities beneficially owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, 6 15 consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. "Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company. "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Place of Payment," when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301. "Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security. "Preferred Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of an Allstate Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by such Allstate Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights of holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of Preferred Securities. "Preferred Securities Guarantee" means any guarantee that the Company may enter into with State Street Bank and Trust Company or other Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Preferred Securities of an Allstate Trust. "Property Trustee" has the meaning set forth in the Declaration of the applicable Allstate Trust. "Redemption Date," when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture. "Redemption Price," when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture. "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301 or 311. 7 16 "Responsible Officer" of the Trustee means an officer in the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. "Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time. "Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective meanings specified in Section 305. "Senior Indebtedness" means with respect to the Company, (i) the principal or any premium and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company, for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures (other than the Securities), bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the types referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; (vi) all obligations of the types referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), except for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or pari passu with the Subordinated Debt Securities and (2) any indebtedness between or among the Company or its affiliates, including all other debt securities and guarantees in respect of those debt securities, issued to (a) any other Allstate Trust or a trustee of such trust and (b) any other trust, or a trustee of such trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is a financing vehicle of the Company (a "financing entity") in connection with the issuance by such financing entity of preferred securities unless otherwise expressly provided in the terms of such debt securities; and (vii) renewals, extensions or refundings of any of the indebtedness referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness, renewal, extension or refunding, under the express provisions of the instrument creating or evidencing the same, or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, such indebtedness or such renewal, extension or refunding thereof is not superior in right of payment to the Securities. "Special Event" means an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event. "Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307. 8 17 "Stated Maturity," when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified pursuant to the terms of such Security as the date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable, in the case of such principal or installment of principal, as such date may be shortened or extended as provided pursuant to the terms of such Security. "Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries and which is engaged primarily in the insurance business. For the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency. "Tax Event," with respect to any Allstate Trust, means the receipt by such Allstate Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) such Allstate Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the corresponding series of Securities, (ii) interest payable by the Company on the corresponding series of Securities is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes or (iii) such Allstate Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges. "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended. "Trust Securities" means, collectively, Common Securities and Preferred Securities of an Allstate Trust. "Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series. 9 18 "U.S. Government Obligation" has the meaning specified in Section 1304. "Vice President," when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words (including the word "Assistant") added before or after the title "vice president." SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture. Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include, (1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, 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, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with. SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents. Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, 10 19 unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers, or other management employee of the Company or any Subsidiary stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company or such Subsidiary, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous. Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument. SECTION 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive and may be relied upon by the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient. The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by 11 20 the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security. The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date (as defined below) by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106. The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company's expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the 12 21 Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106. With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the "Expiration Date" and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date. Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, (1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: The Allstate Corporation Indenture, or (2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company. SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver. Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than 13 22 the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver. In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the written approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be. SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. SECTION 110. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. 14 23 SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture. SECTION 112. Governing Law. This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York. SECTION 113. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay); except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity. SECTION 114. Computations. Unless otherwise specifically provided, the certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public accountants of recognized standing selected by the Board of Directors shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of any computation made under the provisions of this Indenture. The Company shall furnish to the Trustee upon its request a copy of any such certificate or opinion. ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS SECTION 201. Forms Generally. The Securities of each series shall be in such form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate provisions as are required or permitted by this indenture, and 15 24 may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities. The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. SECTION 202. Form of Legend for Global Securities. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form: THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. SECTION 203. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form: This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture ................................... As Trustee By................................ Authorized Signatory 16 25 ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers' Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series: (1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series); (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); (3) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest; (4) the Stated Maturity or Maturities on which the principal of any Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof; (5) the rate or rates at which any Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the rate or rates at which, and extent to which, Additional Interest, if any, shall be payable in respect of any Securities of such series, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, the right, pursuant to Section 311 or as otherwise set forth therein, of the Company to defer or extend an Interest Payment Date, and the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest Payment Date or the method by which any of the foregoing shall be determined; (6) the place or places where the principal of and any premium, if any, and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable; 17 26 (7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced; (8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; (9) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable; (10) if the amount of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined; (11) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of "Outstanding" in Section 101; (12) if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined); (13) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502; (14) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined); 18 27 (15) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced; (16) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 202 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof; (17) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 502; (18) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to Securities of the series; and (19) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(5), but which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture with respect to such series, provided that no such term may modify or delete any provision hereof if imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, and provided, further that any modification or deletion of the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee hereunder shall have been consented to in writing by the Trustee). If any of the foregoing terms are not available at the time such Board Resolution is adopted, or such Officers' Certificate or any supplemental indenture is executed, such resolutions, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture may reference the document or documents to be created in which such terms will be set forth prior to the issuance of such Securities. All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers' Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the 19 28 Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers' Certificate setting forth the terms of the series. SECTION 302. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating, (1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; (2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and (3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such 20 29 Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles and any other customary exceptions reasonably requested by such counsel. If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. SECTION 304. Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be 21 30 exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor. SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed "Security Registrar" for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange. Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of 22 31 transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer. If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed by the Company in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 Business Days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part. The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Securities: (1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security or (C) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 301. (3) Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct. (4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 304, 306, 906 or 1107 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof. 23 32 SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange 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 Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding. In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security. Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation 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 Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued 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 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted 24 33 Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below: (1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2). (2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security. SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose 25 34 name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary. SECTION 309. Cancellation. All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of as directed by a Company Order. SECTION 310. Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. SECTION 311. Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates. If specified as contemplated by Section 201 or 301 with respect to the Securities of a particular series, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, at any time during the term of such series, from time to time to defer the payment of interest on such Securities for such period or periods as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 (each, an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Periods the Company shall have the right to make partial payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date. No Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Securities; provided, however, that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, (a) declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company (including 26 35 other Securities of any series) that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to such Securities (other than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Company, (ii) redemptions or repurchases of any rights, or the declaration of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance of any security under any future rights plan of the Company, (iii) purchases or acquisitions of shares of common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any benefit plans for its or its Subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees or independent contractors, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock or (v) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock of the Company or the security being converted or exchanged) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further defer the payment of interest, provided that no Extension Period shall exceed the period or periods specified in such Securities or extend beyond the Maturity of the principal of such Securities. Upon termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof. The Company shall give the Holders of the Securities of such series and the Trustee notice of its election to begin any such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on Securities of such series would be payable but for such deferral or, with respect to the Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust, so long as such Securities are held by such Allstate Trust, prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which Distributions (as defined in the Declaration of such Allstate Trust) on the Preferred Securities of such Allstate Trust would be payable but for such deferral or (ii) the date the Regular Trustees of such Allstate Trust are required to give notice to any securities exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of such Preferred Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are payable, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record date. The Trustee shall promptly give notice of the Company's election to begin any such Extension Period to the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series. SECTION 312. Right of Set-Off. With respect to the Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, the Company shall have the right to set-off any payment it is otherwise required to make hereunder in respect of any such Security to the extent the Company has theretofore made, or is concurrently on the date of such payment making, a payment under the Guarantee (as defined in the Declaration of such Allstate Trust) relating to such Security or under Section 508. 27 36 SECTION 313. Agreed Tax Treatment. Each Security issued hereunder shall provide that the Company and, by its acceptance of a Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, such Security agree that for United States federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that such Security constitute indebtedness. SECTION 314. Shortening or Extension of Stated Maturity. If specified as contemplated by Section 201 or 301 with respect to the Securities of a particular series, the Company shall have the right to (i) shorten the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series at any time to any date not earlier than the first date on which the Company has the right to redeem the Securities of such series, and (ii) extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series at any time at its election for one or more periods, but in no event to a date later than December 31, 2045; provided that, if the Company elects to exercise its right to extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series pursuant to clause (ii), above, at the time such election is made and at the time of extension (A) the Company is not in bankruptcy, otherwise insolvent or in liquidation, (B) the Company is not in default in the payment of any interest or principal on such Securities, (C) in the case of any series of Securities issued to an Allstate Trust, such Allstate Trust is not in arrears on payments of Distributions on the Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust and no deferred Distributions are accumulated and (D) such Securities are rated not less than BBB- by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services or Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or the equivalent by any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization. In the event the Company elects to shorten or extend the Stated Maturity of such Securities, it shall give notice to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall give notice of such shortening or extension to the Holders, no less than 30 and no more than 60 days prior to the effectiveness thereof. ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when (1) either (A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced 28 37 or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or (B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, or (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds: (A) money in an amount; (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount; or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee; to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest (including Additional Interest) to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be; (2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive. 29 38 SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee. ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES SECTION 501. Events of Default. "Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body): (1) default in the payment of any interest (including Additional Interest) upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (subject to the deferral of any due date in the case of an Extension Period); or (2) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on Security of that series at its Maturity; or (3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or (4) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or 30 39 (5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or AIC in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company or AIC a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or AIC under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or AIC or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (6) the commencement by the Company or AIC of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or AIC in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or AIC or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or AIC in furtherance of any such action; or (7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series. SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), provided that, in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust, if, upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series fail to declare the principal of all the Securities of that series to be immediately due and payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation amount of the corresponding series of Preferred Securities then outstanding shall have such 31 40 right by a notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee; and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) of and the accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on all the Securities of such series shall become immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of principal and interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Securities shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in Article Fourteen. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all overdue interest (including any Additional Interest) on all Securities of that series, (B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and (2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513. In the case of Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust, should the Holder of such Securities fail to rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the related series of Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust shall have such right by written notice to the 32 41 Company and the Trustee, subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above of this Section 502. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon. SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Company covenants that if (1) default is made in the payment of any interest (including Additional Interest) on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or (2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest (including Additional Interest) and (to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable and, if the Securities are held by an Allstate Trust or a trustee of such trust, without duplication of any other amounts paid by an Allstate Trust or trustee in respect thereof) interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy. SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, 33 42 liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607. No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement. adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors' or other similar committee. SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered. SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or any premium or interest (including Additional Interest), upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid: FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607; SECOND: Subject to Article Fourteen, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and premium, if any. and interest (including Additional Interest) on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest (including Additional Interest), respectively; and 34 43 THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company, its successors or assigns or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct. SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series; (2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder; (3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and (5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders. SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 307) interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the 35 44 consent of such Holder. In the case of Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust, any holder of the corresponding series of Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust shall have the right set forth in the preceding sentence to institute directly a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 307) interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security of the principal amount of or interest on the Securities having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of such Preferred Securities of the corresponding series held by such holder. SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted. SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy. SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be. 36 45 SECTION 512. Control by Holders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that: (1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and (2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction. SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series and, in the case of any Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust, may waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default: (1) in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security of such series, or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected. Any such waiver shall be deemed to be on behalf of all Holders of the Securities of such series or by all Holders of the Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust, as applicable. Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon. SECTION 514. 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, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust 37 46 Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company. SECTION 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, 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 Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted. ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section. SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults. If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term "default" means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series. 38 47 SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 601: (1) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties; (2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution; (3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers' Certificate; (4) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon; (5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; (6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney; and (7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder. 39 48 SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof. SECTION 605. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent. SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust. Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as agreed with the Company herein or otherwise. SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees: (1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); (2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents or attorneys), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of it or of its agents or attorneys; and (3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part or on the part of its agents or attorneys, arising out of or in connection with the 40 49 acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. SECTION 608. Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series. SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, and such Trustee may be Trustee for one or more other series of Securities hereunder. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article. SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611. The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series. 41 50 The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If at any time: (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or (2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or (3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees. If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series. 42 51 The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office. SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder. In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to 43 52 such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be. No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article. SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor). SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference shall 44 53 be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section. Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent. An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 106 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section. The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 607. If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form: 45 54 This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. ..................................., As Trustee By................................., As Authenticating Agent By.................................., Authorized Signatory 46 55 ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (l) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date for a series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date, and (2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, that no such list need be provided in any case to the extent it would include names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished. The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act. Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee. The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. 47 56 A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange. SECTION 704. Reports by Company. The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed with the Commission. ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. (a) Subject to Section 801(c), the Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the Company shall not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company, unless: (1) in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, partnership or trust, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer 48 57 or lease and, if a supplemented indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with. (b) Subject to Section 801(c), any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of any such transaction shall be treated as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction. (c) The provisions of Section 801(a) and (b) shall not be applicable to the direct or indirect transfer of all or any portion of the stock, assets or liabilities of any Subsidiary to another Subsidiary. SECTION 802. Successor Substituted. Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities. ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes: (1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or (2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely 49 58 for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or (3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); or (4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or (5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) 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 (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or (6) to secure the Securities; or (7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or (8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611; or (9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this Clause (9) shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or, in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust and for so long as any of the corresponding series of Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust shall remain outstanding, the holders of such Preferred Securities; or (10) to conform any provision hereof to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act. 50 59 SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby: (1) except to the extent permitted by Section 311 or as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the extension of the interest payment period of the Securities of any series, change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any instalment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or (2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or (3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1010, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to "the Trustee" and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1010, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(8); provided, further, that if the Securities of such series are held by an Allstate Trust or a trustee of such trust, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of not less than a majority in liquidation amount of Trust Securities of the applicable Allstate Trust shall have consented to such supplemental indenture; provided, further, that if the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the applicable Allstate Trust shall have consented to such supplemental indenture. 51 60 A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series. It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof. SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby. SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series. 52 61 ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture. SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and each other Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands. The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust. If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act. 53 62 Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act. The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series. The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money. Any money or U.S. Government Obligation deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company at its option on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company 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 Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company. SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default. The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers' Certificate, stating 54 63 whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge. SECTION 1005. Existence. Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders. SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties. The Company will cause all buildings and equipment owned by it to be maintained and kept in such condition, repair and working order as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary in the interest of its business and that of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from selling, abandoning or otherwise disposing of, or discontinuing the operation or maintenance of, any of such properties if such action is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary. SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes. The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment or governmental charge whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. SECTION 1008. Limitation on Dividends. If Securities are issued to an Allstate Trust or a trustee of such trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by such Allstate Trust and (i) there shall have occurred any event of which the Company has actual knowledge that (A) with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default and (B) in respect of which the Company shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (ii) the Company shall be in 55 64 default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the related Preferred Securities Guarantee or Common Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to begin an Extension Period as provided in this Indenture and shall not have rescinded such notice, or such period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, (A) declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (B) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company (including other Securities of any series) that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to such Securities (other than (1) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Company, (2) redemptions or repurchases of any rights, or the declaration of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance of any security under any future rights plan of the Company, (3) purchases or acquisitions of shares of common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any benefit plans for its or its Subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees or independent contractors, (4) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock or (5) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock of the Company or the security being converted or exchanged) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing. SECTION 1009. Covenants as to Allstate Trusts. In the event Securities are issued to an Allstate Trust or a trustee of such trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities of such Allstate Trust, for so long as such Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Company will covenant (i) to directly or indirectly maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities of such Allstate Trust; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company under this Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership of such Common Securities, (ii) to use its reasonable efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of the Declaration of such Allstate Trust, to cause such Allstate Trust (a) to remain a statutory business trust, except in connection with the distribution of Securities to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of such Allstate Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities of such Allstate Trust, or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration of such Allstate Trust, and (b) to continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes and (iii) to use its reasonable efforts to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Securities. SECTION 1010. Additional Sums. In the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 201 or 301, in the event that (i) an Allstate Trust is the Holder of all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) a Tax Event in respect of such Allstate Trust shall have occurred and be continuing and (iii) the Company 56 65 shall not have (A) redeemed the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 1108 or other redemption provision applicable to any series or (B) terminated such Allstate Trust pursuant to the Declaration of such Allstate Trust, the Company shall pay to such Allstate Trust (and its permitted successors or assigns under the Declaration of such Allstate Trust) for so long as such Allstate Trust (or its permitted successor or assignee) is the Holder of any Securities of such series, such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the amount of Distributions (as defined in such Declaration) then due and payable by such Allstate Trust on the related Preferred Securities and Common Securities that at any time remain outstanding in accordance with the terms thereof shall not be reduced as a result of any Additional Taxes (the "Additional Sums"). Whenever in this Indenture or the Securities there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided however, that the deferral of the payment of interest pursuant to section 311 or the Securities shall not defer the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable. SECTION 1011. Waiver of Certain Covenants. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(18), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series or in any of Sections 1006 to 1010, inclusive, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect. ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article. 57 66 SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction. SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series, provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any 58 67 Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed. SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall state: (1) the Redemption Date, (2) the Redemption Price, (3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed, (4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date, (5) the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, and (6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable. SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date. 59 68 SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307. If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security. SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. SECTION 1108. Right of Redemption of Securities Issued to an Allstate Trust. In the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, the Company, at its option, may redeem such Securities (i) on or after the date five years after the date of original issuance of such Securities, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or (ii) upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Special Event in respect of such Allstate Trust, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, in whole (but not in part), in each case at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof. 60 69 ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as provided for by the terms of such Securities. SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be 61 70 given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107. ARTICLE THIRTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE SECTION 1301. Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 1302 or Section 1303 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 301 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section 1302 or 1303, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. SECTION 1302. Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called "Defeasance"). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company's obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 1303 applied to such Securities. 62 71 SECTION 1303. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 801(3), Sections 1006 through 1009, inclusive, and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(18), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 501(4) (with respect to any of Section 801(3), Sections 1006 through 1009, inclusive, and any such covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(18), 901(2) or 901(7)) and 501(7) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called "Covenant Defeasance"). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 501(4)), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. SECTION 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 1302 or Section 1303 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be: (1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 609 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, "U.S. Government Obligation" means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option 63 72 of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in Clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt. (2) In the event of an election to have Section 1302 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur. (3) In the event of an election to have Section 1303 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur. (4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate to the effect that it has been informed by the relevant securities exchange(s) that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit. (5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 501(5) and (6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day). (6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any indenture or other agreement or instrument for borrowed money to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound. 64 73 (7) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder. (8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with. SECTION 1305. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 1306, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of any 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 such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1304 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 Outstanding Securities. Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 with respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities. SECTION 1306. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, 65 74 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1305 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust. ARTICLE FOURTEEN SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES SECTION 1401. Agreement to Subordinate. The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities issued hereunder and under any supplemental indenture or by any resolutions by the Board of Directors ("Additional Provisions") by such Holder's acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article Fourteen; and each holder of a Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions. The payment by the Company of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all Securities issued hereunder and under any Additional Provisions shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. No provision of this Article Fourteen shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder. SECTION 1402. Default on Senior Indebtedness. In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, has been accelerated because of a default, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption and sinking fund payments) of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 1402, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness 66 75 may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. SECTION 1403. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy. Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company on account of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities; and upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article Fourteen, shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or by the Trustee under the Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money's worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Holders or to the Trustee. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, and their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness. 67 76 For purposes of this Article Fourteen, the words "cash, property or securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article Fourteen with respect to the Securities to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article Eight of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 1403 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article Eight of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 1402 or in this Section 1403 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 607 of this Indenture. SECTION 1404. Subrogation. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the rights of the Holders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Fourteen, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fourteen to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Holders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Fourteen are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article Fourteen or elsewhere in this Indenture, any Additional Provisions or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company, as the case may be, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the 68 77 Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Fourteen of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Fourteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Six of this Indenture, and the Holders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Fourteen. SECTION 1405. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each Holder by such Holder's acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Fourteen and appoints the Trustee such Holder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. SECTION 1406. Notice by the Company. The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fourteen. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article Fourteen or any other provision of this Indenture or any Additional Provisions, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fourteen, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Six of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 1506 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to 69 78 the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Six of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be (or a trustee on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Fourteen, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Fourteen, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment. SECTION 1407. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Fourteen in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture or any Additional Provisions shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Fourteen, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture or any Additional Provisions against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article Six of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Holders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Fourteen or otherwise. Nothing in this Article Fourteen shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 607. SECTION 1408. Subordination May Not Be Impaired. No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, as the case may be, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the 70 79 Company, as the case may be, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders, without incurring responsibility to the Holders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Fourteen or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the Securities to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, as the case may be, and any other Person. 71 80 This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original. But all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written. THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION By: /s/ James P. Zils -------------------------------- Name: James P. Zils Title: Vice President and Treasurer Attest: /s/ Robert W. Pike - ----------------------------- Name: Robert W. Pike Title: Secretary STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By: /s/ Harry W. Seemore -------------------------------- Name: Harry W. Seemore Title: Assistant Vice President 81 STATE OF ) ) ss.: COUNTY OF ) On the 25th day of November, 1996, before me personally came __________________ to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is __________________________ of STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of said trust company; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said trust company; and that he signed his name thereto by like authority. _____________________________ STATE OF ) ) ss.: COUNTY OF ) On the 25th day of November, 1996, before me personally came __________________ to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is __________________________ of THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION, one of the corporations described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that he signed his name thereto by like authority. _____________________________
1 Exhibit 4.2 ================================================================================ AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST OF ALLSTATE FINANCING I Dated as of November 25, 1996 ================================================================================ 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS i
Page ---- ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS Section 1.1 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT Section 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Section 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Section 2.3 Reports by the Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Section 2.4 Periodic Reports to Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Section 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Section 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Section 2.7 Event of Default; Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ARTICLE III ORGANIZATION Section 3.1 Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Section 3.2 Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Section 3.3 Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Section 3.4 Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Section 3.5 Title to Property of the Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Section 3.6 Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Section 3.7 Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Section 3.8 Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Section 3.9 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Section 3.10 Certain Rights of Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Section 3.11 Delaware Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Section 3.12 Execution of Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Section 3.13 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Section 3.14 Duration of Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Section 3.15 Mergers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 ARTICLE IV DEPOSITOR Section 4.1 Depositor's Purchase of Common Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Section 4.2 Responsibilities of the Depositor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 ARTICLE V TRUSTEES Section 5.1 Number of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 3 ii
Page ---- Section 5.2 Delaware Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Section 5.3 Property Trustee; Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Section 5.4 Certain Qualifications of Regular Trustees and Delaware Trustee Generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Section 5.5 Regular Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Section 5.6 Delaware Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Section 5.7 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Section 5.8 Vacancies among Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Section 5.9 Effect of Vacancies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Section 5.10 Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Section 5.11 Delegation of Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Section 5.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS Section 6.1 Distributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 ARTICLE VII ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES Section 7.1 General Provisions Regarding Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Section 7.2 Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Section 7.3 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION OF TRUST Section 8.1 Termination of Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 ARTICLE IX TRANSFER OF INTERESTS Section 9.1 Transfer of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Section 9.2 Transfer of Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Section 9.3 Deemed Security Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Section 9.4 Book Entry Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Section 9.5 Notices to Clearing Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Section 9.6 Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Section 9.7 Definitive Preferred Security Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Section 9.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Section 9.9 Cancellation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Section 9.10 CUSIP Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 ARTICLE X LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS Section 10.1 Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Section 10.2 Exculpation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 4 Page iii
Section 10.3 Fiduciary Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Section 10.4 Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Section 10.5 Outside Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 ARTICLE XI ACCOUNTING Section 11.1 Fiscal Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 11.2 Certain Accounting Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 11.3 Banking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Section 11.4 Withholding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 ARTICLE XII AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS Section 12.1 Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Section 12.2 Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 ARTICLE XIII REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE Section 13.1 Representations and Warranties of Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Section 13.2 Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS Section 14.1 Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Section 14.2 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Section 14.3 Intention of the Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Section 14.4 Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Section 14.5 Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Section 14.6 Partial Enforceability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Section 14.7 Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 ANNEX I TERMS OF SECURITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-1 EXHIBIT A-1 FORM OF PREFERRED SECURITY CERTIFICATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A1-1 EXHIBIT A-2 FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2-1 EXHIBIT B SPECIMEN OF DEBENTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1 EXHIBIT C UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1 5 CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE* * This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Declaration and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions. iv
Section of Trust Indenture Act Section of of 1939, as amended Declaration - ------------------- ----------- 310(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3(a) 310(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 311(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 312(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2(a) 312(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2(b) 313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 314(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4 314(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 314(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 314(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 314(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 315(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.9(b) 315(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.9(a) 315(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.9(a) 316(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annex I 316(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6(e) - --------------- 6 AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST OF ALLSTATE FINANCING I November 25, 1996 AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ("Declaration"), dated and effective as of November 25, 1996, by the Trustees (as defined herein), the Depositor (as defined herein) and by the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the Trust to be issued pursuant to this Declaration; WHEREAS, the Trustees and the Depositor established Allstate Financing I (the "Trust"), a trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated as of August 21, 1996 (the "Original Declaration") and a Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 21, 1996, for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in certain Debentures of the Debenture Issuer; WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust have been issued; WHEREAS, all of the Trustees and the Depositor, by this Declaration, amend and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration; and NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue the Trust as a business trust under the Business Trust Act and that this Declaration constitute the governing instrument of such business trust, the Trustees declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration. 7 ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS Section 1.1 Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires: (a) Capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1; (b) a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning throughout; (c) all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration" are to this Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; (d) all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and Annexes and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of and Annexes and Exhibits to this Declaration unless otherwise specified; (e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used in this Declaration unless otherwise defined in this Declaration or unless the context otherwise requires; and (f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa. "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder. "Agent" means any Paying Agent. "Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is authorized to bind such Person. "Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person: (a) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or composition of or in respect of such Person under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of such Person or of any substantial part of its property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or 2 8 order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (b) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due and its willingness to be adjudicated a bankrupt, or the taking of corporate action by such Person in furtherance of any such action. "Book Entry Interest" means a beneficial interest in a Global Certificate, ownership and transfers of which shall be maintained and made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 9.4. "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or any day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or Boston, Massachusetts are authorized or required by law to close. "Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code Section 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Certificate" means a Common Security Certificate or a Preferred Security Certificate. "Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "Clearing Agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act that is acting as depositary for the Preferred Securities and in whose name or in the name of a nominee of that organization shall be registered a Global Certificate and which shall undertake to effect book entry transfers and pledges of the Preferred Securities. "Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Clearing Agency effects book entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency. "Closing Date" means the "Closing Date" and each "Time of Delivery" under the Underwriting Agreement. 3 9 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission as from time to time constituted, or if any time after the execution of this Declaration such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under applicable Federal securities laws, then the body performing such duties at such time. "Common Securities" and "Common Security" have the meanings specified in Section 7.1. "Common Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement to be dated as of November 25, 1996 of the Depositor in respect of the Common Securities. "Common Security Certificate" means a definitive certificate in fully registered form representing a Common Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2. "Company Indemnified Person" means (a) any Regular Trustee; (b) any Affiliate of any Regular Trustee; (c) any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any Regular Trustee; or (d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates. "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Property Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Property Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Agreement is located at Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. "Covered Person" means: (a) any officer, director, shareholder, partner, member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or (ii) the Trust's Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities. "Debenture Issuer" means The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any successor entity resulting from any consolidation, amalgamation, merger or other business combination, in its capacity as issuer of the Debentures under the Indenture. "Debenture Trustee" means State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company, as trustee under the Indenture until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such successor trustee. "Debentures" means the series of Debentures to be issued by the Debenture Issuer under the Indenture to be held by 4 10 the Property Trustee, a specimen certificate for such series of Debentures being Exhibit B. "Delaware Trustee" means Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc., a Delaware banking corporation, solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as herein provided in Section 5.2. "Definitive Preferred Security Certificates" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7. "Depositor" means The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation, in its capacity as depositor of the Trust. "Distribution" means a distribution payable to Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 6.1. "DTC" means The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency. "Event of Default" means any one of the following events (whatever the reasons for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body): (a) the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture); or (b) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of 30 days; or (c) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any Redemption Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or (d) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Trustees in this Declaration (other than a covenant or warranty, a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is dealt with in clause (b) or (c) above) and continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the defaulting Trustee or Trustees by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation preference of the outstanding Preferred Securities a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or 5 11 (e) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Property Trustee and the failure by the Depositor to appoint a successor Property Trustee within 60 days thereof. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Fiduciary Indemnified Person" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(b). "Global Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4. "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Certificate representing a Security is registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Business Trust Act. "Indemnified Person" means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary Indemnified Person. "Indenture" means the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of November 25, 1996, between the Debenture Issuer and the Debenture Trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued. "Investment Company" means an "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act. "Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters, to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority (a "Change in Investment Company Act Law"), the Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which Change in Investment Company Act Law becomes effective on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities under this Declaration. "Legal Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(g). "Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities" means, except as provided in the terms of the Preferred Securities or by the Trust Indenture Act, Holder(s) of outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Preferred Securities or 6 12 Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class. "Ministerial Action" has the meaning set forth in the terms of the Securities as set forth in Annex I. "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Declaration shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Paying Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 7.2. "Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature. "Preferred Securities" and "Preferred Security" have the meanings specified in Section 7.1. "Preferred Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement to be dated as of November 25, 1996, of the Depositor in respect of the Preferred Securities. 7 13 "Preferred Security Beneficial Owner" means, with respect to a Book Entry Interest, a Person who is the beneficial owner of such Book Entry Interest, as reflected on the books of the Clearing Agency, or on the books of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly as a Clearing Agency Participant or as an indirect participant, in each case in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency). "Preferred Security Certificate" means a certificate representing a Preferred Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A- 1. "Pricing Agreement" means the pricing agreement among the Trust, the Depositor, and the underwriters designated by the Regular Trustees with respect to the offer and sale of the Preferred Securities. "Property Trustee" means State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company, solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Property Trustee appointed as herein provided. "Property Trustee Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(c). "Quorum" means a majority of the Regular Trustees or, if there are only two Regular Trustees, both of them. "Regular Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1. "Related Party" means, with respect to the Depositor, any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Depositor or any other Person that owns, directly or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding voting securities of the Depositor. "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Property Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Property Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Property Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Rule 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act. 8 14 "Securities" means the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities. "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time or any successor legislation. "Special Event" means the occurrence of a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event, as so collectively defined. "Securities Guarantees" means the Common Securities Guarantee and the Preferred Securities Guarantee. "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date hereof, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Debenture Issuer on such Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, for United States Federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges. "25% in liquidation amount of the Securities" means, except as provided in the terms of the Preferred Securities or by the Trust Indenture Act, Holder(s) of outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Preferred Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of 25% or more of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class. "Treasury Regulations" means the income tax regulations, including temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the United States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations). 9 15 "Trustee" or "Trustees" means each Person who has signed this Declaration as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and references herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder. "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement for the offering and sale of Preferred Securities in the form of Exhibit C. ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT Section 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application. (a) This Declaration is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Declaration and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. (b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a Trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act. (c) If and to the extent that any provision of this Declaration limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control. (d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Declaration shall not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. Section 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities. (a) Each of the Depositor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide the Property Trustee, unless the Property Trustee is Registrar for the Securities (i) within 14 days after each record date for payment of Distributions, a list, in such form as the Property Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Securities ("List of Holders") as of such record date; provided that neither the Depositor nor the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall be obligated to provide such List of Holders at 10 16 any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the Property Trustee by the Depositor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust, and (ii) at any other time, within 30 days of receipt by the Trust of a written request for a List of Holders as of a date no more than 14 days before such List of Holders is given to the Property Trustee. The Property Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information contained in Lists of Holders given to it or which it receives in the capacity as Paying Agent (if acting in such capacity); provided that the Property Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders. (b) The Property Trustee shall comply with its obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 2.3 Reports by the Property Trustee. Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing May 15, 1997, the Property Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred Securities such reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 2.4 Periodic Reports to Property Trustee. Each of the Depositor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Each of the Depositor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Declaration that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate. Section 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver. (a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the 11 17 Holders of all of the Preferred Securities, waive any past Event of Default in respect of the Preferred Securities and its consequences; provided that, if the underlying Event of Default under the Indenture is not waivable under the Indenture, the Event of Default under this Declaration shall also not be waivable. The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(a) shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Upon such waiver, any such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or an Event of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities or impair any right consequent thereon. Any waiver by the Holders of the Preferred Securities of an Event of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities shall also be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Holders of the Common Securities of any such Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities for all purposes of this Declaration without any further act, vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities. (b) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Common Securities, waive any past Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities and its consequences; provided that, if the underlying Event of Default under the Indenture is not waivable under the Indenture, except where the Holders of the Common Securities are deemed to have waived such Event of Default under the Declaration as provided below in this Section 2.6(b), the Event of Default under the Declaration shall also not be waivable; provided further, each Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any such Event of Default and all Events of Default with respect to the Common Securities and its consequences until all Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, and until such Events of Default have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee will be deemed to be acting solely on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and only the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Securities. The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(b) shall be in lieu of Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act are hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(b), upon such waiver, any such default shall cease to exist and any Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities arising therefrom shall be 12 18 deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities or impair any right consequent thereon. (c) A waiver of an Event of Default under the Indenture by the Property Trustee at the direction of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, constitutes a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default under this Declaration. The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(c) shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Section 2.7 Event of Default; Notice. (a) The Property Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the occurrence of an Event of Default actually known to the Property Trustee, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Securities, the Regular Trustees and the Depositor, notices of all defaults with respect to the Securities actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice (the term "defaults" for the purposes of this Section 2.7(a) being hereby defined to be an Event of Default as defined in the Indenture, not including any periods of grace provided for therein and irrespective of the giving of any notice provided therein); provided that, except for a default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of the Debentures or in the payment of any sinking fund installment established for the Debentures, the Property Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities. (b) The Property Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any default except: (1) a default under Sections 5.01(a) and 5.01(b) of the Indenture; or (2) any default as to which the Property Trustee shall have received written notice or of which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee charged with the administration of the Declaration shall have actual knowledge. 13 19 ARTICLE III ORGANIZATION Section 3.1 Name. The Trust is named "Allstate Financing I", as such name may be modified from time to time by the Regular Trustees following written notice to the Holders of Securities. The Trust's activities may be conducted under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed advisable by the Regular Trustees. Section 3.2 Office. The address of the principal office of the Trust is c/o The Allstate Corporation, 2775 Sanders Road, Northbrook, Illinois 60062. On ten Business Days written notice to the Holders of Securities, the Regular Trustees may designate another principal office. Section 3.3 Purpose. The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and sell Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Debentures, and (b) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those other activities necessary, advisable or incidental thereto. The Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments, pledge any of its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. Section 3.4 Authority. Subject to the limitations provided in this Declaration and to the specific duties of the Property Trustee, the Regular Trustees shall have exclusive and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An action taken by the Regular Trustees in accordance with their powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust and an action taken by the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust, no person shall be required to inquire into the authority of the Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on the power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in this Declaration. Section 3.5 Title to Property of the Trust. Except as provided in Section 3.8 with respect to the Debentures and the Property Trustee Account or as otherwise 14 20 provided in this Declaration, legal title to all assets of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders shall not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust. Section 3.6 Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees. The Regular Trustees shall have the exclusive power, duty and authority to cause the Trust to engage in the following activities: (a) to issue and sell the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities in accordance with this Declaration; provided, however, that the Trust may issue no more than one series of Preferred Securities and no more than one series of Common Securities, and, provided further, that there shall be no interests in the Trust other than the Securities, and the issuance of Securities shall be limited to a simultaneous issuance of both Preferred Securities and Common Securities on each Closing Date; (b) in connection with the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities, at the direction of the Depositor, to: (i) execute and file with the Commission the registration statement on Form S-3 prepared by the Depositor, including any amendments thereto, pertaining to the Preferred Securities; (ii) execute and file any documents prepared by the Depositor, or take any acts as determined by the Depositor to be necessary in order to qualify or register all or part of the Preferred Securities in any State in which the Depositor has determined to qualify or register such Preferred Securities for sale; (iii) execute and file an application, prepared by the Depositor, to the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market for listing upon notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities; (iv) execute and deliver letters, documents or instruments with DTC and other Clearing Agencies relating to the Preferred Securities; (v) execute and file with the Commission a registration statement on Form 8-A, including any amendments thereto, prepared by the Depositor, relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act; and 15 21 (vi) execute and enter into the Underwriting Agreement and Pricing Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities; (c) to acquire the Debentures with the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities; provided, however, that the Regular Trustees shall cause legal title to the Debentures to be held of record in the name of the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and the Holders of Common Securities; (d) to give the Depositor and the Property Trustee prompt written notice of the occurrence of a Special Event; provided that the Regular Trustees shall consult with the Depositor and the Property Trustee before taking or refraining from taking any Ministerial Action in relation to a Special Event; (e) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date be established, including and with respect to, for the purposes of Section 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant notices to the Holders of Preferred Securities and Holders of Common Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates; (f) to take all actions and perform such duties as may be required of the Regular Trustees pursuant to the terms of the Securities; (g) to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to legal action, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against the Trust ("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to Section 3.8(e), the Property Trustee has the exclusive power to bring such Legal Action; (h) to employ or otherwise engage employees and agents (who may be designated as officers with titles) and managers, contractors, advisors, and consultants and pay reasonable compensation for such services; (i) to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations under the Trust Indenture Act; (j) to give the certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act to the Property Trustee, which certificate may be executed by any Regular Trustee; (k) to incur expenses that are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of the Trust; (l) to act as, or appoint another Person to act as, registrar and transfer agent for the Securities; 16 22 (m) to give prompt written notice to the Holders of the Securities of any notice received from the Debenture Issuer of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period under the Indenture; (n) to execute all documents or instruments, perform all duties and powers, and do all things for and on behalf of the Trust in all matters necessary or incidental to the foregoing; (o) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware and of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Holders of the Preferred Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which the Trust was created; (p) to take any action, not inconsistent with this Declaration or with applicable law, that the Regular Trustees determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable in carrying out the activities of the Trust as set out in this Section 3.6, including, but not limited to: (i) causing the Trust not to be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act; (ii) causing the Trust to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust; and (iii) cooperating with the Debenture Issuer to ensure that the Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Debenture Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes; provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of Holders; and (q) to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the Trust to be duly prepared and filed by the Regular Trustees, on behalf of the Trust. The Regular Trustees must exercise the powers set forth in this Section 3.6 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and the Regular Trustees shall not take any action that is inconsis- 17 23 tent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set forth in Section 3.3. Subject to this Section 3.6, the Regular Trustees shall have none of the powers or the authority of the Property Trustee set forth in Section 3.8. Any expenses incurred by the Regular Trustees pursuant to this Section 3.6 shall be reimbursed by the Debenture Issuer. Section 3.7 Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees. (a) The Trust shall not, and the Trustees (including the Property Trustee) shall not, engage in any activity other than as required or authorized by this Declaration. In particular, the Trust shall not and the Trustees (including the Property Trustee) shall cause the Trust not to: (i) invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of the Securities; (ii) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided herein; (iii) possess Trust property for other than a Trust purpose; (iv) make any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans represented by the Debentures; (v) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the Trust assets or the terms of the Securities in any way whatsoever; (vi) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the Securities; or (vii) other than as provided in this Declaration or Annex I, (A) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (B) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, or (C) exercise any right to rescind or annul any declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, or (D) consent to any amendment, modifica- 18 24 tion or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required; without in each case, obtaining the prior approval of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities and, in the case of clause (D), the Trust shall have received an opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment, modification or termination will not cause more than an insubstantial risk that for United States federal income tax purposes the Trust will not be classified as a grantor trust, or (viii) revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Preferred Securities except by subsequent vote of the Holders of such Preferred Securities. Section 3.8 Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee. (a) The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of record in the name of the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities. The right, title and interest of the Property Trustee to the Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter be appointed as Property Trustee in accordance with Section 5.7. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents with regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered. (b) The Property Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and interest in the Debentures to the Regular Trustees or to the Delaware Trustee (if the Property Trustee does not also act as Delaware Trustee). (c) The Property Trustee shall: (i) establish and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing trust account (the "Property Trustee Account") in the name of and under the exclusive control of the Property Trustee on behalf of the Holders of the Securities and, upon the receipt of payments of funds made in respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee, deposit such funds into the Property Trustee Account and make payments to the Holders of the Preferred Securities and Holders of the Common Securities from the Property Trustee Account in accordance with Section 6.1. Funds in the Property Trustee Account shall be held uninvested until disbursed in accordance with this Declaration. The Property Trustee Account shall be an account that is maintained with a banking institution, which institution may be the Property Trustee in its individual capacity, the rating on whose long-term unsecured indebtedness is 19 25 at least equal to the rating assigned to the Preferred Securities by a "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act; (ii) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities to the extent the Debentures are redeemed or mature consistent with the terms of Annex I; and (iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by the Regular Trustees in accordance with the terms of the Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities upon the occurrence of certain special events (as may be defined in the terms of the Securities) arising from a change in law or a change in legal interpretation or other specified circumstances pursuant to the terms of the Securities. (d) The Property Trustee shall take all actions and perform such duties as may be specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Securities. (e) The Property Trustee shall take any Legal Action which arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge or the Property Trustee's duties and obligations under this Declaration or the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that if a Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a Holder of Preferred Securities may directly institute a proceeding against the Depositor, pursuant to Section 508 of the Indenture for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures. In connection with such Direct Action, the rights of the Holders of the Common Securities will be subrogated to the rights of such Holder of Preferred Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder of Preferred Securities in such Direct Action. Except as provided in the preceding sentences, the Holders of Preferred Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Debentures. 20 26 (f) The Property Trustee shall not resign as a Trustee unless either: (i) the Trust has been completely liquidated and the proceeds of the liquidation distributed to the Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of the Securities; or (ii) a Successor Property Trustee has been appointed and has accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 5.7. (g) The Property Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Debentures under the Indenture and, if an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee occurs and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall, for the benefit of Holders of the Securities, enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures subject to the rights of the Holders pursuant to the terms of such Securities. (h) The Property Trustee shall be authorized to undertake any actions set forth in Section 317(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. (i) The Property Trustee may authorize one or more Persons (each, a "Paying Agent") to pay Distributions, redemption payments or liquidation payments on behalf of the Trust with respect to all Securities and any such Paying Agent shall comply with Section 317(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any Paying Agent may be removed by the Property Trustee at any time and a successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agents may be appointed at any time by the Property Trustee. (j) Subject to this Section 3.8, the Property Trustee shall have none of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Regular Trustees set forth in Section 3.6. Notwithstanding anything expressed or implied to the contrary in this Declaration or any Annex or Exhibit hereto, (i) the Property Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this Section 3.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3 and (ii) the Property Trustee shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3. Section 3.9 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Property Trustee. (a) The Property Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of 21 27 Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Declaration and no implied covenants shall be read into this Declaration against the Property Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) of which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge, the Property Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (b) No provision of this Declaration shall be construed to relieve the Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred: (A) the duties and obligations of the Property Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Declaration and the Property Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Declaration, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Declaration against the Property Trustee; and (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Property Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Declaration; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Declaration; (ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee, unless 22 28 it shall be proved that the Property Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; (iii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Declaration; (iv) no provision of this Declaration shall require the Property Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Declaration or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Property Trustee against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it; (v) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the Property Trustee Account shall be to deal with such property in a similar manner as the Property Trustee deals with similar property for its own account, subject to the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Property Trustee under this Declaration and the Trust Indenture Act; (vi) the Property Trustee shall have no duty or liability for or with respect to the value, genuineness, existence or sufficiency of the Debentures or the payment of any taxes or assessments levied thereon or in connection therewith; (vii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree in writing with the Depositor. Money held by the Property Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the Property Trustee Account maintained by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 3.8(c)(i) and except to the extent otherwise required by law; and (viii) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by the 23 29 Regular Trustees or the Depositor with their respective duties under this Declaration, nor shall the Property Trustee be liable for any default or misconduct of the Regular Trustees or the Depositor. Section 3.10 Certain Rights of Property Trustee. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.9: (i) the Property Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties; (ii) any direction or act of the Depositor or the Regular Trustees contemplated by this Declaration shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate; (iii) whenever in the administration of this Declaration, the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Depositor or the Regular Trustees; (iv) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or registration thereof; (v) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel or other experts of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel and experts with respect to legal matters or advice within the scope of such experts' area of expertise shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion, such counsel may be counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees. The Property Trustee shall have the right 24 30 at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Declaration from any court of competent jurisdiction; (vi) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Property Trustee security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Property Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the Property Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Property Trustee provided, that, nothing contained in this Section 3.10(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Property Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration; (vii) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Property Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit; (viii) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, custodians, nominees or attorneys and the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; (ix) any action taken by the Property Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the Securities, and the signature of the Property Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action and no third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Property Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Declaration, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Property Trustee's or its agent's taking such action; 25 31 (x) whenever in the administration of this Declaration the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Property Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Securities which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities as would be entitled to direct the Property Trustee under the terms of the Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such instructions; (xi) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Declaration, the Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration; and (xii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Declaration. (xiii) If no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative causes of action, construe ambiguous provisions in the Declaration or is unsure of the application of any provision of the Declaration, and the matter is not one on which Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled under the Declaration to vote, then the Property Trustee shall take such action as is directed by the Company and, if not so directed, shall take such action as it deems advisable and in the best interests of the Holders of the Securities and will have no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct. (b) No provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Property Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. 26 32 Section 3.11 Delaware Trustee. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration other than Section 5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of the Regular Trustees or the Property Trustee described in this Declaration. Except as set forth in Section 5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Business Trust Act and shall have no powers, duties or responsibilities whatsoever, except as expressly provided herein or except as required by the Business Trust Act. Section 3.12 Execution of Documents. Unless otherwise determined by the Regular Trustees, and except as otherwise required by the Business Trust Act, a majority of or, if there are only two, any Regular Trustee or, if there is only one, such Regular Trustee is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents that the Regular Trustees have the power and authority to execute pursuant to Section 3.6. Section 3.13 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Depositor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration or the Securities. Section 3.14 Duration of Trust. The Trust, unless terminated pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII hereof, shall have existence for fifty-five (55) years from the Closing Date. Section 3.15 Mergers. (a) The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as described in Section 3.15(b) and (c). (b) The Trust may, at the request of the Depositor, with the consent of the Regular Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the Regular Trustees and without the consent of the Holders of the Securities, the Delaware Trustee or the Property Trustee, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or 27 33 into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its property substantially as an entirety to, a trust organized as such under the laws of any State; provided that: (i) such successor entity (the "Successor Entity") either: (A) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under the Securities; or (B) substitutes for the Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred Securities rank in priority with respect to Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise; (ii) the Debenture Issuer expressly acknowledges a trustee of the Successor Entity that possesses the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder of the Debentures; (iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or with another organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed or quoted; (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization; (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect; (vi) such Successor Entity has a purpose identical to that of the Trust; (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Depositor has received an opinion of a nationally recognized independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to the effect that: 28 34 (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect; (B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor the Successor Entity will be required to register as an Investment Company; and (C) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Trust (or the Successor Entity) will continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes; (viii) the Depositor or any permitted successor or assignee owns all of the Common Securities of such Successor Entity and guarantees the obligations of such Successor Entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Preferred Securities Guarantee. (c) Notwithstanding Section 3.15(b), the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its property substantially as an entirety to, any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the Trust or Successor Entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. ARTICLE IV DEPOSITOR Section 4.1 Depositor's Purchase of Common Securities. On the Closing Date the Depositor will purchase all of the Common Securities issued by the Trust, in an amount at least equal to 3% of the capital of the Trust, at the same time as the Preferred Securities are sold. 29 35 Section 4.2 Responsibilities of the Depositor. In connection with the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities, the Depositor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in the following activities: (a) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 in relation to the Preferred Securities, including any amendments thereto; (b) to determine the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the Trust, and advise the Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States; (c) to prepare for filing by the Trust an application to the New York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq National Market for listing upon notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities; (d) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments thereto; and (e) to negotiate the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and Pricing Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities; and (f) any other actions necessary or desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities. ARTICLE V TRUSTEES Section 5.1 Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees initially shall be four (4), and: (a) at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Depositor may, by written instrument, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; and (b) after the issuance of any Securities, the number of Trustees may be increased or decreased by vote of the 30 36 Holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the Holders of the Common Securities; provided, however, that, the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than two (2); provided further that (1) one Trustee, in the case of a natural person, shall be a person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or that, if not a natural person, is an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware; (2) there shall be at least one Trustee who is an employee or officer of, or is affiliated with the Depositor (a "Regular Trustee"); and (3) one Trustee shall be the Property Trustee for so long as this Declaration is required to qualify as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and such Trustee may also serve as Delaware Trustee if it meets the applicable requirements. Section 5.2 Delaware Trustee. If required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") shall be: (a) a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or (b) if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware, and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law; provided that, if the Property Trustee has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law, then the Property Trustee shall also be the Delaware Trustee and Section 3.11 shall have no application. Section 5.3 Property Trustee; Eligibility. (a) There shall at all times be one Trustee which shall act as Property Trustee which shall: (i) not be an Affiliate of the Depositor; and (ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation pub- 31 37 lishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then for the purposes of this Section 5.3(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. (b) If at any time the Property Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 5.3(a), the Property Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 5.7(c). (c) If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee and the Holder of the Common Securities (as if it were the obligor referred to in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. (d) The Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Declaration for purposes of clause (i) of the first provision contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. (e) The initial Property Trustee shall be: State Street Bank and Trust Company Section 5.4 Certain Qualifications of Regular Trustees and Delaware Trustee Generally. Each Regular Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (unless the Property Trustee also acts as Delaware Trustee) shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more Authorized Officers. Section 5.5 Regular Trustees. The initial Regular Trustees shall be: Joseph T. Kane Jennifer M. Hager (a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration and except if a meeting of the Regular Trustees is called with respect to any matter over which the Regular Trustees have power to act, any power of the Regular Trustees may be exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such Regular Trustee. 32 38 (b) Unless otherwise determined by the Regular Trustees, and except as otherwise required by the Business Trust Act or applicable law, any Regular Trustee is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents which the Regular Trustees have the power and authority to cause the Trust to execute pursuant to Section 3.6; and (c) a Regular Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or her power for the purposes of signing any documents which the Regular Trustees have power and authority to cause the Trust to execute pursuant to Section 3.6. Section 5.6 Delaware Trustee. The initial Delaware Trustee shall be: Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc. Section 5.7 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees. (a) Subject to Section 5.7(b), Trustees may be appointed or removed without cause at any time except during an event of default: (i) until the issuance of any Securities, by written instrument executed by the Depositor; and (ii) after the issuance of any Securities, by vote of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the Holders of the Common Securities. (b) After the occurrence of and during the continuation an Event of Default, the Trustee that acts as the Property Trustee may be removed at such time by the holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities. (c) (i) The Trustee that acts as Property Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 5.7(a) until a Successor Property Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Property Trustee and delivered to the Regular Trustees and the Depositor; and (ii) the Trustee that acts as Delaware Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with this Section 5.7(a) until a successor Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Delaware Trustee under Sec- 33 39 tions 5.2 and 5.4 (a "Successor Delaware Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the Regular Trustees and the Depositor. (d) A Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until his successor shall have been appointed or until his death, removal or resignation. Any Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by the Trustee and delivered to the Depositor and the Trust, which resignation shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein; provided, however, that: (i) No such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Property Trustee shall be effective: (A) until a Successor Property Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such Successor Property Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Depositor and the resigning Property Trustee; or (B) until the assets of the Trust have been completely liquidated and the proceeds thereof distributed to the holders of the Securities; and (ii) no such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Delaware Trustee shall be effective until a Successor Delaware Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Depositor and the resigning Delaware Trustee. (e) The Holders of the Common Securities shall use their best efforts to promptly appoint a Successor Delaware Trustee or Successor Property Trustee as the case may be if the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee delivers an instrument of resignation in accordance with this Section 5.7. (f) If no Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 5.7 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of resignation or removal, the Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee resigning or being removed, as applicable, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such no- 34 40 tice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be. (g) No Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be. (h) In no event will the holders of Preferred Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Regular Trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the Debenture Issuer. Section 5.8 Vacancies among Trustees. If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 5.1, or if the number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 5.1, a vacancy shall occur. A resolution certifying the existence of such vacancy by the Regular Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the Regular Trustees shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of such vacancy. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 5.7. Section 5.9 Effect of Vacancies. The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Regular Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of a Regular Trustee in accordance with Section 5.7, the Regular Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Regular Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Regular Trustees by this Declaration. Section 5.10 Meetings. If there is more than one Regular Trustee, meetings of the Regular Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Regular Trustee. Regular meetings of the Regular Trustees may be held at a time and place fixed by resolution of the Regular Trustees. Notice of any in-person meetings of the Regular Trustees shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 48 hours before such meeting. Notice of any telephonic meetings of the Regular Trustees or any committee thereof shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before a meeting. Notices shall contain a 35 41 brief statement of the time, place and anticipated purposes of the meeting. The presence (whether in person or by telephone) of a Regular Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Regular Trustee attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any activity on the ground that the meeting has not been properly called or convened. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of the Regular Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Regular Trustees present (whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote with respect to such matter, provided that a Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the Regular Trustees. In the event there is only one Regular Trustee, any and all action of such Regular Trustee shall be evidenced by a written consent of such Regular Trustee. Section 5.11 Delegation of Power. (a) Any Regular Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 3.6, including any registration statement or amendment thereto filed with the Commission, or making any other governmental filing; and (b) The Regular Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number or to officers of the Trust the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Regular Trustees or otherwise as the Regular Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein. Section 5.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, may be merged or converted or with which either may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, shall be the successor of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. 36 42 ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS Section 6.1 Distributions. Holders shall receive Distributions (as defined herein) in accordance with the applicable terms of the relevant Holder's Securities. Distributions shall be made on the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities in accordance with the preferences set forth in their respective terms. If and to the extent that the Debenture Issuer makes a payment of interest (including Additional Interest (as defined in the Indenture)) or principal on the Debentures held by the Property Trustee (the amount of any such payment being a "Payment Amount"), the Property Trustee shall and is directed, to the extent funds are available for that purpose, to make a distribution (a "Distribution") of the Payment Amount to Holders. ARTICLE VII ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES Section 7.1 General Provisions Regarding Securities. (a) The Regular Trustees shall on behalf of the Trust issue one class of preferred securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I (the "Preferred Securities") and one class of common securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I (the "Common Securities.") The Trust shall issue no securities or other interests in the assets of the Trust other than the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities. (b) The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by a Regular Trustee. Such signature shall be the manual signature of any present or any future Regular Trustee. In case any Regular Trustee of the Trust who shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Regular Trustee before the Certificates so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Certificates nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who signed such Certificates had not ceased to be such Regular Trustee; and any Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Trust by such persons who, at the actual date of execution of such Security, shall be the Regular Trustees of the Trust, although at the date of the execution and delivery of the Declaration any such person was not such a Regular Trustee Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Regular Trustees, as evidenced by their execution thereof, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or desig- 37 43 nation and such legends or endorsements as the Regular Trustees may deem appropriate, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage. (c) The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall not constitute a loan to the Trust. (d) Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. (e) Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder or a Preferred Security Beneficial Owner in accordance with the terms of this Declaration, shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall be bound by, this Declaration. Section 7.2 Registrar, Paying Agent and Exchange Agent. In the event that the Preferred Securities are not in book-entry only form, the Trust shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, (i) an office or agency where Preferred Securities may be presented for registration of transfer ("Registrar"), (ii) an office or agency where Preferred Securities may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent") and (iii) an office or agency where Securities may be presented for exchange ("Exchange Agent"). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Preferred Securities and of their transfer. The Trust may appoint the Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Exchange Agent and may appoint one or more co-registrars, one or more additional paying agents and one or more additional exchange agents in such other locations as it shall determine. The term "Registrar" includes any additional registrar, the term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent and the term "Exchange Agent" includes any additional exchange agent. The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee and co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee and acceptable to the Regular Trustees and Debenture Issuer. The Trust may change any Paying Agent, Registrar, or Exchange Agent without prior notice to any Holder. The Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Regular Trustees. The Trust shall notify the Property Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Declaration. If the Trust fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar, Paying Agent or Exchange Agent, the Property Trustee shall act as such. The Trust or any of its Affiliates may act as Paying Agent, Registrar, or Exchange Agent. The Trust shall act as Paying Agent, Registrar, and Exchange Agent for the Common Securities. 38 44 The Trust initially appoints the Property Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent, and Exchange Agent for the Preferred Securities. Section 7.3 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. The Trust shall require each Paying Agent other than the Property Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Property Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of liquidation amounts or Distributions on the Securities, and will notify the Property Trustee if there are insufficient funds for such purpose. While any such insufficiency continues, the Property Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Property Trustee. The Trust at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Property Trustee and to account for any money disbursed by it. Upon payment over to the Property Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Trust or an Affiliate of the Trust) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Trust or the Depositor or an Affiliate of the Trust or the Depositor acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. The Trust shall notify the Property Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Declaration. If the Trust fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Paying Agent, the Property Trustee shall act as such. The Trust or any of its Affiliates may act as Paying Agent. The Trust shall initially act as Paying Agent for the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities. ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION OF TRUST Section 8.1 Termination of Trust. (a) The Trust shall terminate: (i) upon the liquidation of or the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Depositor; (ii) upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction; (iii) when all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof shall have been paid to the Holders in accordance with the terms of the Securities; 39 45 (iv) at the Depositor's direction (wholly discretionary and optional) to the Property Trustee to terminate the Trust and distribute the Debentures; or (v) before the issuance of any Securities, with the consent of all of the Regular Trustees and the Depositor. (b) As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 8.1(a), the Trustees shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. (c) The provisions of Section 3.9 and Article X shall survive the termination of the Trust. (d) If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iv) above, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Trustees as expeditiously as the Trustees determine to be possible by distributing the Debentures, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Debenture Issuer as provided by applicable law, to the Holders of Securities, unless such distribution is determined by the Property Trustee not to be practical, in which event such Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Debenture Issuer available for distribution to Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Debenture Issuer as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to, in the case of Holders of Securities, the aggregate liquidation amount of such Securities plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). ARTICLE IX TRANSFER OF INTERESTS Section 9.1 Transfer of Securities. (a) Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in the terms of the Securities. Any transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void. (b) Subject to this Article IX, Preferred Securities shall be freely transferable. (c) To the fullest extent permitted by law, other than a transfer in connection with a consolidation or merger of the Depositor into another corporation, or any conveyance, 40 46 transfer or lease by the Depositor of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, pursuant to Section 1009 of the Indenture, any attempted transfer of the Common Securities shall be void. The Regular Trustees shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE". Section 9.2 Transfer of Certificates. The Property Trustee will act as registrar and transfer agent for the Capital Securities. The Property Trustees shall provide for the registration of Certificates and of transfers of Certificates, which will be effected without charge but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Regular Trustees may require) in respect of any tax or other government charges that may be imposed in relation to it. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Certificate, the Regular Trustees shall cause one or more new Certificates to be issued in the name of the designated transferee or transferees. Every Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Regular Trustees duly executed by the Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer shall be canceled by the Regular Trustees. A transferee of a Certificate shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt by such transferee of a Certificate. By acceptance of a Certificate, each transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration. The Trustees will not be required to register or cause to be registered the transfer of its Preferred Securities after such Preferred Securities have been called for redemption. Section 9.3 Deemed Security Holders. The Trustees may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate shall be registered on the books and records of the Trust as the sole holder of such Certificate and of the Securities represented by such Certificate for purposes of receiving Distributions, redemption payments and for all other purposes whatsoever and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Certificate or in the Securities represented by such Certificate on the part of any Person, whether or not the Trust shall have actual or other notice thereof. Section 9.4 Book Entry Interests. Unless otherwise specified in the terms of the Preferred Securities, the Preferred Securities Certificates, on original issuance, will be issued in the form of one or more, fully registered, global Preferred Security Certificates (each a 41 47 "Global Certificate"), to be delivered to DTC, the initial Clearing Agency, by, or on behalf of, the Trust. Such Global Certificates shall initially be registered on the books and records of the Trust in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC, and no Preferred Security Beneficial Owner will receive a definitive Preferred Security Certificate representing such Preferred Security Beneficial Owner's interests in such Global Certificates, except as provided in Section 9.7. Unless and until definitive, fully registered Preferred Security Certificates (the "Definitive Preferred Security Certificates") have been issued to the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 9.7: (a) the provisions of this Section 9.4 shall be in full force and effect; (b) the Trust and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this Declaration (including the payment of Distributions on the Global Certificates and receiving approvals, votes or consents hereunder) as the Holder of the Preferred Securities and the sole holder of the Global Certificates and shall have no obligation to the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners; (c) to the extent that the provisions of this Section 9.4 conflict with any other provisions of this Declaration, the provisions of this Section 9.4 shall control; and (d) the rights of the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such Preferred Security Beneficial Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants and receive and transmit payments of Distributions on the Global Certificates to such Clearing Agency Participants. DTC will make book entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants. Section 9.5 Notices to Clearing Agency. Whenever a notice or other communication to the Preferred Security Holders is required under this Declaration, unless and until Definitive Preferred Security Certificates shall have been issued to the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 9.7, the Regular Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to the Preferred Security Holders to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no notice obligations to the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners. Section 9.6 Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency. If any Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities depositary with respect to the Preferred 42 48 Securities, the Regular Trustees may, in their sole discretion, appoint a successor Clearing Agency with respect to such Preferred Securities. Section 9.7 Definitive Preferred Security Certificates. If: (a) a Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities depositary with respect to the Preferred Securities and a successor Clearing Agency is not appointed within 90 days after such discontinuance pursuant to Section 9.6; or (b) the Regular Trustees elect after consultation with the Depositor to terminate the book entry system through the Clearing Agency with respect to the Preferred Securities; then: (c) Definitive Preferred Security Certificates shall be prepared by the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust with respect to such Preferred Securities; and (d) upon surrender of the Global Certificates by the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions, the Regular Trustees shall cause Definitive Preferred Security Certificates to be delivered to Preferred Security Beneficial Owners in accordance with the instructions of the Clearing Agency. Neither the Trustees nor the Trust shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and each of them may conclusively rely on and shall be protected in relying on, said instructions of the Clearing Agency. The Definitive Preferred Security Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Regular Trustees, as evidenced by their execution thereof, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements as the Regular Trustees may deem appropriate, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Preferred Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage. Section 9.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates. If: (a) any mutilated Certificates should be surrendered to the Regular Trustees, or if the Regular Trustees shall 43 49 receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate; and (b) there shall be delivered to the Regular Trustees such security or indemnity as may be required by them to keep each of them harmless; then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, any Regular Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall execute and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 9.8, the Regular Trustees may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the relevant Securities, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time. Section 9.9 Cancellation. The Trust at any time may deliver Preferred Securities to the Property Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar, Paying Agent and Exchange Agent shall forward to the Property Trustee any Preferred Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, redemption, exchange or payment. The Property Trustee shall promptly cancel all Preferred Securities, surrendered for registration of transfer, redemption, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of cancelled Preferred Securities as the Trust directs, provided that the Property Trustee shall not be obligated to destroy Preferred Securities. The Trust may not issue new Preferred Securities to replace Preferred Securities that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation or that any holder has exchanged. Section 9.10 CUSIP Numbers. The Trust in issuing the Preferred Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Property Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders of Preferred Securities; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Preferred Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Preferred Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Sponsor will promptly notify the Property Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers. 44 50 ARTICLE X LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS Section 10.1 Liability. (a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Securities Guarantees and the terms of the Securities, the Depositor shall not be: (i) personally liable for the return of any portion of the capital contributions (or any return thereon) of the Holders of the Securities which shall be made solely from assets of the Trust; and (ii) be required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of Securities any deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or otherwise. (b) The Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for all of the debts and obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities) to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets. (c) Pursuant to Section 3803(a) of the Business Trust Act, the Holders of the Preferred Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Section 10.2 Exculpation. (a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions. (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Trust, including information, opin- 45 51 ions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Securities might properly be paid. Section 10.3 Fiduciary Duty. (a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity (other than the duties imposed on the Property Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act), are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Indemnified Person. (b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein: (i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between any Covered Persons; or (ii) whenever this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated herein or therein provides that an Indemnified Person shall act in a manner that is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to the Trust or any Holder of Securities, the Indemnified Person shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such action or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Indemnified Person, the resolution, action or term so made, taken or provided by the Indemnified Person shall not constitute a breach of this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Indemnified Person at law or in equity or otherwise. (c) Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted or required to make a decision: (i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any considera- 46 52 tion to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust or any other Person; or (ii) in its "good faith" or under another express standard, the Indemnified Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard imposed by this Declaration or by applicable law. Section 10.4 Indemnification. (a) (i) The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by reason of the fact that he is or was a Company Indemnified Person against expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Company Indemnified Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. (ii) The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a Company Indemnified Person against expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust and except that no such indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Company Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Trust unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of Delaware or the court in which such action or 47 53 suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. (iii) To the extent that a Company Indemnified Person shall be successful on the merits or otherwise (including dismissal of an action without prejudice or the settlement of an action without admission of liability) in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 10.4(a), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified, to the full extent permitted by law, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. (iv) Any indemnification under paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 10.4(a) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Debenture Issuer only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Company Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (i) and (ii). Such determination shall be made (1) by the Regular Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of such Regular Trustees who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Regular Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust. (v) Expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred by a Company Indemnified Person in defending a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 10.4(a) shall be paid by the Debenture Issuer in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Company Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Debenture Issuer as authorized in this Section 10.4(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the Debenture Issuer if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by the Regular Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested Regular Trustees, (ii) if such a 48 54 quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Regular Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii) the Common Security Holder of the Trust, that, based upon the facts known to the Regular Trustees, counsel or the Common Security Holder at the time such determination is made, such Company Indemnified Person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that such Company Indemnified Person believed or had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In no event shall any advance be made in instances where the Regular Trustees, independent legal counsel or Common Security Holder reasonably determine that such person deliberately breached his duty to the Trust or its Common or Preferred Security Holders. (vi) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 10.4(a) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification and advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors of the Debenture Issuer or Preferred Security Holders of the Trust or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. All rights to indemnification under this Section 10.4(a) shall be deemed to be provided by a contract between the Debenture Issuer and each Company Indemnified Person who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.4(a) is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this Section 10.4(a) shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing. (vii) The Debenture Issuer or the Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Company Indemnified Person against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Debenture Issuer would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Section 10.4(a). (viii) For purposes of this Section 10.4(a), references to "the Trust" shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any constituent entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger, so that any person who is or was a director, trustee, officer or employee of such constituent entity, or is 49 55 or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another entity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section 10.4(a) with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as he would have with respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had continued. (ix) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 10.4(a) shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Company Indemnified Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. (b) The Debenture Issuer agrees to indemnify the (i) Property Trustee, (ii) the Delaware Trustee (in its individual capacity), (iii) any Affiliate of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, and (iv) any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (each of the Persons in (i) through (iv) being referred to as a "Fiduciary Indemnified Person") for, and to hold each Fiduciary Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of such Fiduciary Indemnified Person) incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration or the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against or investigating any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 10.4(b) shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Declaration. Section 10.5 Outside Businesses. Any Covered Person, the Depositor, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders of Securities shall have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. No Covered Person, the Depositor, the Delaware Trustee, or the Property Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Trust, could 50 56 be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person, the Depositor, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee shall have the right to take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor, or may act as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations of the Depositor or its Affiliates. ARTICLE XI ACCOUNTING Section 11.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year ("Fiscal Year") of the Trust shall be the calendar year, or such other year as is required by the Code. Section 11.2 Certain Accounting Matters. (a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Regular Trustees shall keep, or cause to be kept, full books of account, records and supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail, each transaction of the Trust. The books of account shall be maintained on the accrual method of accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied. The books of account and the records of the Trust shall be examined by and reported upon as of the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the Regular Trustees. (b) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each of the Holders of Securities, within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust, annual financial statements of the Trust, including a balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related statements of income or loss; (c) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered to each of the Holders of Securities, any annual United States federal income tax information statement, required by the Code, containing such information with regard to the Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and the Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding any right under the Code to deliver any such statement at a later date, the Regular Trustees shall endeavor to deliver all such statements within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust. (d) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and filed with the appropriate taxing authority, an 51 57 annual United States federal income tax return, on a Form 1041 or such other form required by United States federal income tax law, and any other annual income tax returns required to be filed by the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing authority. Section 11.3 Banking. The Trust shall maintain one or more bank accounts in the name and for the sole benefit of the Trust; provided, however, that all payments of funds in respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee shall be made directly to the Property Trustee Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the Property Trustee Account. The sole signatories for such accounts shall be designated by the Regular Trustees; provided, however, that the Property Trustee shall designate the signatories for the Property Trustee Account. Section 11.4 Withholding. The Trust and the Regular Trustees shall comply with all withholding requirements under United States federal, state and local law. The Trust shall request, and the Holders shall provide to the Trust, such forms or certificates as are necessary to establish an exemption from withholding with respect to each Holder, and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the Trust to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding obligations. The Regular Trustees shall file required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding is properly established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the Trust is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to any authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a distribution in the amount of the withholding to the Holder. In the event of any claimed over withholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction. If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions made, the Trust may reduce subsequent Distributions by the amount of such withholding. ARTICLE XII AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS Section 12.1 Amendments. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any applicable terms of the Securities, this Declaration may only be amended by a written instrument approved and executed by: 52 58 (i) the Regular Trustees (or, if there are more than two Regular Trustees a majority of the Regular Trustees); (ii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee; and (iii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware Trustee, the Delaware Trustee; (b) No amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be void and ineffective: (i) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment, the Property Trustee shall have first received an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the Depositor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); (ii) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment which affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall have first received: (A) an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the Depositor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and (B) an opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to the Depositor or the Trust) that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and (iii) to the extent the result of such amendment would be to: (A) cause the trust to fail to continue to be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as a grantor trust; (B) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Property Trustee in contravention of the Trust Indenture Act; or 53 59 (C) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act; (c) At such time after the Trust has issued any Securities that remain outstanding, any amendment that would adversely affect the rights, privileges or preferences of any Holder of Securities may be effected only with such additional requirements as may be set forth in the terms of such Securities; (d) Section 9.1(c) and this Section 12.1 shall not be amended without the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities; (e) Article IV shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities; (f) The rights of the holders of the Common Securities under Article V to increase or decrease the number of, and appoint and remove Trustees shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities; and (g) Notwithstanding Section 12.1(c), this Declaration may be amended by the Depositor and the Trustees without the consent of the Holders of the Securities to: (i) cure any ambiguity; (ii) correct or supplement any provision in this Declaration that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of this Declaration or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Declaration, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Declaration; or (iii) modify, eliminate and add to any provision of this Declaration to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will be classified for United Stated federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any Securities are outstanding or to ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holders of the Securities. Any amendment to the Declaration shall become effective when 54 60 written notice thereof is given to the holders of the Securities. Section 12.2 Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent. (a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at any time by the Regular Trustees (or as provided in the terms of the Securities) to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of Securities are entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration, the terms of the Securities or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed or admitted for trading. The Regular Trustees shall call a meeting of the Holders of such class if directed to do so by the Holders of at least 25% in liquidation amount of such class of Securities. Such direction shall be given by delivering to the Regular Trustees one or more calls in a writing stating that the signing Holders of Securities wish to call a meeting and indicating the general or specific purpose for which the meeting is to be called. Any Holders of Securities calling a meeting shall specify in writing the Security Certificates held by the Holders of Securities exercising the right to call a meeting and only those Securities specified shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph has been met. (b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the Securities, the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of Securities: (i) notice of any such meeting shall be given to all the Holders of Securities having a right to vote thereat at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the date of such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent or approval of the Holders of Securities is permitted or required under this Declaration or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed or admitted for trading, such vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting of the Holders of Securities. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Holders of Securities may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the Holders of Securities owning not less than the minimum amount of Securities in liquidation amount that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Holders of Securities having a right to vote thereon were present and voting. Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Holders of Securities entitled to vote who have not consented in writing. The Regular Trustees may specify 55 61 that any written ballot submitted to the Security Holder for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Trust within the time specified by the Regular Trustees; (ii) each Holder of a Security may authorize any Person to act for it by proxy on all matters in which a Holder of Securities is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Holder of Securities executing it. Except as otherwise provided herein, all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Holders of the Securities were stockholders of a Delaware corporation; (iii) each meeting of the Holders of the Securities shall be conducted by the Regular Trustees or by such other Person that the Regular Trustees may designate; and (iv) unless the Business Trust Act, this Declaration, the terms of the Securities, the Trust Indenture Act or the listing rules of any stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities are then listed or trading, otherwise provides, the Regular Trustees, in their sole discretion, shall establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Holders of Securities, including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is to be voted on by any Holders of Securities, waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting, the establishment of a record date, quorum requirements, voting in person or by proxy or any other matter with respect to the exercise of any such right to vote. ARTICLE XIII REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE Section 13.1 Representations and Warranties of Property Trustee. The Trustee that acts as initial Property Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Depositor at the 56 62 date of this Declaration, and each Successor Property Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Depositor at the time of the Successor Property Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Property Trustee that: (a) the Property Trustee is a Massachusetts trust company with trust powers and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration; (b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of the Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Property Trustee. The Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Property Trustee, and it constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Property Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the Property Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws of the Property Trustee; and (d) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any Massachusetts or federal banking authority is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Property Trustee, of this Declaration. Section 13.2 Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee. The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Depositor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Depositor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Delaware Trustee that: (a) The Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration. (b) The Delaware Trustee has been authorized to perform its obligations under the Certificate of Trust and this Declaration. This Declaration under Delaware law constitutes a 57 63 legal, valid and binding obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). (c) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any banking authority of the State of Delaware or any federal banking authority governing the banking or trust powers of the Delaware Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee, of this Declaration. (d) The Delaware Trustee is a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware. ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS Section 14.1 Notices. All notices provided for in this Declaration shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows: (a) if given to the Trust, in care of the Regular Trustees at the Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): Allstate Financing I c/o The Allstate Corporation 2775 Sanders Road Northbrook, Illinois 60062 Attention: Secretary Telecopy: (b) if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the mailing address set forth below (or such other address as Delaware Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): 58 64 Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc. 900 Market Street, 2nd Floor Wilmington, Delaware 19801 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration/ Richard N. Smith Telecopy: (c) if given to the Property Trustee, at the Property Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Property Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): State Street Bank and Trust Company Two International Place Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Attention: Corporate Trust Department Telecopy: (d) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing address of the Depositor set forth below (or such other address as the Holder of the Common Securities may give notice to the Trust): The Allstate Corporation 2775 Sanders Road Northbrook, Illinois 60062 Attention: Secretary Telecopy: (e) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Trust. All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. Section 14.2 Governing Law. This Declaration and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and all rights and remedies shall be governed by such laws without regard to principles of conflict of laws. 59 65 Section 14.3 Intention of the Parties. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions of this Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the parties. Section 14.4 Headings. Headings contained in this Declaration are inserted for convenience of reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any provision hereof. Section 14.5 Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Declaration any of the parties hereto is named or referred to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be included, and all covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Depositor and the Trustees shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed. Section 14.6 Partial Enforceability. If any provision of this Declaration, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Declaration, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby. Section 14.7 Counterparts. This Declaration may contain more than one counterpart of the signature page and this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of each of the Trustees to one of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page. 60 66 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused these presents to be executed as of the day and year first above written. /s/ Joseph T. Kane ---------------------------------- Joseph T. Kane, as Regular Trustee /s/ Jennifer M. Hager ---------------------------------- Jennifer M. Hager, as Regular Trustee DELAWARE TRUST CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC., as Delaware Trustee By:/s/ Richard N. Smith ------------------------------ Name: Richard N. Smith Title: Vice President STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Property Trustee By:/s/ Henry W. Seemore ------------------------------ Name: Henry W. Seemore Title: Assistant Vice President THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION, as Depositor By:/s/ James P. Zils ------------------------------ Name: James P. Zils Title: Vice President and Treasurer 67 ANNEX I TERMS OF 7.95% CUMULATIVE QUARTERLY INCOME PREFERRED SECURITIES, SERIES A 7.95% COMMON SECURITIES Pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of November 25, 1996 (as amended from time to time, the "Declaration"), the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities are set out below (each capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in the Declaration or, if not defined in such Declaration, as defined in the Prospectus referred to below): 1. Designation and Number. Preferred Securities. 20,000,000 Preferred Securities of the Trust with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000), plus up to an additional 3,000,000 Preferred Securities of the Trust with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of Seventy Five Million Dollars ($75,000,000) solely to cover over-allotments, as provided for in the Underwriting Agreement (the "Additional Preferred Securities")and a liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $25 per preferred security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as "7.95% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A ("QUIPS(SM)") (the "Preferred Securities"). The Preferred Security Certificates evidencing the Preferred Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice or to conform to the rules of any stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed. (a) Common Securities. 618,557 Common Securities of the Trust with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of Fifteen Million Four Hundred Sixty Three Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Five Dollars ($15,463,925) plus up to an additional 92,784 Common Securities of the Trust with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of Two Million Three Hundred Nineteen Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($2,319,600) to meet the capital requirements of the Trust in the event of an issuance of Additional Preferred Securities, and a liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $25 per common security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as "7.95% Common Securities" (the "Common Securi- I-1 68 ties"). The Common Security Certificates evidencing the Common Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice. 2. Distributions. (a) Distributions payable on each Security will be fixed at a rate per annum of 7.95% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Property Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more than one quarter will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes such cash distributions and any such interest payable unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee and to the extent the Property Trustee has funds available therefor. The amount of Distributions payable for any period will be computed for any full quarterly Distribution period on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and for any period shorter than a full quarterly Distribution period for which Distributions are computed, Distributions will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 90-day quarter. (b) Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from November 25, 1996, and will be payable quarterly in arrears, on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year, commencing on December 31, 1996, except as otherwise described below. So long as not Event of Default under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period from time to time on the Debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters or extending beyond the maturity date of the Debentures (each an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable on the Debentures; provided that no Extension Period shall last beyond the date of maturity of the Debentures. As a consequence of such deferral, Distributions will also be deferred. Despite such deferral, quarterly Distributions will continue to accrue with interest thereon (to the extent permitted by applicable law) at the Coupon Rate compounded quarterly during any such Extension Period. The term "Distribution" as used herein shall include any such additional Distributions. During any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer to, (a) declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to any of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal, I-2 69 interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Debenture Issuer (including other debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Debenture Issuer, (ii) redemptions or repurchases of any rights, or the declaration of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance of any security under any future rights plan of the Debenture Issuer, (iii) purchases or acquisitions of shares of common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Debenture Issuer of its obligations under any benefit plans for its or its subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees or independent contractors, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock for another class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock or (v) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock of the Debenture Issuer or the security being converted or exchanged) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such Extension Period; provided that such Extension Period together with all such previous and further extensions thereof may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the maturity of the Debentures. Payments of accrued Distributions will be payable to Holders as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the first record date after the end of the Extension Period. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. (c) Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the relevant record dates. While the Preferred Securities remain in book-entry only form, the relevant record dates shall be one Business Day prior to the relevant payment dates which payment dates correspond to the interest payment dates on the Debentures. Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the Declaration, each such payment in respect of the Preferred Securities will be made as described under the heading Book-Entry Only Issuance in the Prospectus Supplement dated November 20, 1996, to the Prospectus dated October 1, 1996 (together, the "Prospectus"), of the Trust included in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Depositor, the Trust and certain other business trusts. The relevant record dates for the Common Securities shall be the same record date as for the Preferred Securities. If the Preferred Securities shall not continue to remain in book-entry only form, the relevant record dates for the Preferred Securities, shall conform to the rules of any securities exchange on which the securities I-3 70 are listed and, if none, shall be selected by the Regular Trustees, which dates shall be at least 15 Distribution Days but less than 60 Business Days before the relevant payment dates. Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually paid on any Distribution payment date, as a result of the Debenture Issuer having failed to make a payment under the Debentures, will cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the special record date or other specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture. If any date on which Distributions are payable on the Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Distribution payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest, additional Distributions or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. (d) In the event that there is any money or other property held by or for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be distributed Pro Rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the Securities. 3. Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, the Holders of the Securities on the date of the dissolution, winding-up or termination, as the case may be, will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders of Securities after satisfaction of liabilities of creditors an amount equal to the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"), unless, in connection with such dissolution, winding-up or termination, Debentures in an aggregate stated principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of such Securities, with an interest rate equal to the Coupon Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on, such Securities, shall be distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange for such Securities. The Liquidation Distribution shall be consistent with the provisions of paragraph 4(g) below. If, upon any such dissolution, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on the Securities shall be paid on a Pro Rata basis. I-4 71 4. Redemption and Distribution. (a) Upon the repayment of the Debentures in whole or in part, whether at maturity or upon redemption (either at the option of the Debenture Issuer or pursuant to a Special Event), the proceeds from such repayment or payment shall be simultaneously applied to redeem Securities having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures so repaid or redeemed at a redemption price of $25 per Security plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon at the date of the redemption, payable in cash (the "Redemption Price"). Holders will be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice of such redemption. The Debentures will mature on December 31, 2026, which date may be (i) shortened at any time at the election of the Debenture Issuer to a date not earlier than November 25, 2001 and (ii) extended at any time at the election of the Debenture Issuer for one or more periods, but in no event to a date later than December 31, 2045, if certain conditions (as set forth in Section 314 of the Indenture) are met. (b) If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed, the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities will be redeemed Pro Rata by lot or by any other method determined by the Debenture Trustee to be equitable, and if the Debenture Trustee redeems such Securities on a Pro Rata basis, the Securities to be redeemed will be as described in Section 4(f)(ii) below. (c) The Debenture Issuer will have the right to redeem the Debentures (i) on or after November 25, 2001, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on the Debentures so redeemed to the date fixed for redemption, plus 100% of the principal amount thereof or (ii) upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Special Event, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, in whole (but not in part) at a redemption price equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on the Debentures so redeemed to the date fixed for redemption, plus 100% of the principal amount thereof. (d) At any time, the Depositor shall have the right to dissolve the Trust and, after satisfaction of creditors, cause Debentures held by the Property Trustee, having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the Coupon Rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions on, and having the same record date for payment as the Securities, to be distributed to the Holders of the Securities in liquidation of such Holders' interests in the Trust on a Pro Rata basis. If the Depositor elects to liquidate the Trust and thereby causes the Debentures to be distributed to Holders of I-5 72 the Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the Debenture Issuer shall continue to have the right to shorten or extend the maturity of such Debentures, provided that it can extend the maturity only if certain conditions (as set forth in Section 314 of the Indenture) are met. On and from the date fixed by the Regular Trustees for any distribution of Debentures and dissolution of the Trust: (i) the Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) DTC or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), as the record Holder of the Preferred Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates representing the Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution and any certificates representing Securities, except for certificates representing Preferred Securities held by DTC or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), will be deemed to represent beneficial interests in the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the Coupon Rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions on such Securities until such certificates are presented to the Debenture Issuer or its agent for transfer or reissue. (e) If the Debentures are distributed to holders of the Securities, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Debenture Issuer will use its best efforts to have the Debentures listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on such other exchange as the Preferred Securities were listed immediately prior to the distribution of the Debentures. (f) "Redemption or Distribution Procedures." (i) Notice of any redemption of, or notice of distribution of Debentures in exchange for the Securities (a "Redemption/Distribution Notice") will be given by the Trust by mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption or exchange thereof which, in the case of a redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of the Debentures. For purposes of the calculation of the date of redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given pursuant to this Section 4(f)(i), a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders of Securities. Each Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the Holders of Securities at the address of each such Holder appearing in the books and records of the Trust. No defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the mailing of either thereof with respect to any I-6 73 Holder shall affect the validity of the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect to any other Holder. (ii) In the event that fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the Securities to be redeemed shall be redeemed Pro Rata from each Holder of Preferred Securities (or by lot or any other method determined by the Property Trustee to be equitable), it being understood that, in respect of Preferred Securities registered in the name of and held of record by the DTC or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) or any nominee, the distribution of the proceeds of such redemption will be made to each Clearing Agency Participant (or Person on whose behalf such nominee holds such securities) in accordance with the procedures applied by such agency or nominee. The particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected on a Pro Rata basis not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate. (iii) If Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a Redemption/Distribution Notice, which notice may only be issued if the Debentures are redeemed as set out in this Section 4 (which notice will be irrevocable), then (A) while the Preferred Securities are in book-entry only form, with respect to the Preferred Securities, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, provided that the Debenture Issuer has paid the Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures, the Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably with DTC or its nominee (or successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price with respect to the Preferred Securities and will give DTC irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, and (B) with respect to Preferred Securities issued in definitive form and Common Securities, provided that the Debenture Issuer has paid the Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures, the Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent for the Securities Funds sufficient to pay the relevant Redemption Price and will give such paying agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of record of such Securities on the relevant record date by check mailed to the address of such Holders appearing on the books and I-7 74 records of the Trust on such record date. If a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been given and funds deposited as required, if applicable, then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit, or on the redemption date, as applicable, distributions will cease to accrue on the Securities so called for redemption and all rights (except the rights described in the immediately preceding sentence) of Holders of such Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date of such Securities to receive the Redemption Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price, and such Securities shall cease to be Outstanding. Neither the Regular Trustees nor the Trust shall be required to register or cause to be registered the transfer of any Securities that have been so called for redemption. If any date fixed for redemption of Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date fixed for redemption. If payment of the Redemption Price in respect of any Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Property Trustee or by the Depositor as guarantor pursuant to the relevant Securities Guarantee, Distributions on such Securities will continue to accrue from the original redemption date to the actual date of payment, in which case the actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price. (iv) Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be sent by the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust to (A) in respect of the Preferred Securities, DTC or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) if the Global Certificates have been issued or, if Definitive Preferred Security Certificates have been issued, to the Holder thereof, and (B) in respect of the Common Securities to the Holder thereof. Such notice shall state: (I) the Redemption Date; (II) the Redemption Price; (III) the CUSIP number; (IV) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the identification and the total Liquidation Amount of the particular Trust Securities to be redeemed; and (V) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and that I-8 75 distributions thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date. (v) Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), provided the acquiror is not the Holder of the Common Securities or the obligor under the Indenture, the Depositor or any of its subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement. (g) Payment of any Redemption Price on the Preferred Securities and any Distribution of Debentures to holders of Preferred Securities shall be made only to the applicable recordholders thereof as they appear on the register for such Preferred Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be one Business Day prior to the relevant redemption date or liquidation date, as applicable; provided, however, that in the event that any Preferred Securities are not in book-entry form, the relevant record date for such Preferred Securities shall be a date at least 15 days prior to the redemption date or liquidation date, as applicable. (h) If the Securities are to be redeemed or exchanged as part of a Liquidation Distribution, the Trust shall not be required to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities following the record date for any such Liquidation Distribution or redemption of any such Securities provided that such transfer restrictions shall not be applicable following the date for the payment of such Redemption Price or Liquidation Distribution if the Trust fails to make such payment or distribution on such date. 5. Voting Rights - Preferred Securities. (a) Except as provided under Sections 5(b) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have no voting rights. (b) Subject to the requirements set forth in this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities, voting separately as a class may direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the Declaration, including the right to direct the Property Trustee, as holder of the Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies available under the Indenture, conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debenture Trustee with respect to I-9 76 the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default and its consequences that is waivable under Section 513 of the Indenture, or (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable. The Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Preferred Securities. Other than with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting any remedy available to the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Property Trustee shall not take any action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the Preferred Securities under this paragraph unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action. If a Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a holder of Preferred Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures. In connection with such Direct Action, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities Holder will be subrogated to the rights of such holder of Preferred Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Issuer to such holder of Preferred Securities in such Direct Action. Except as provided in the preceding sentences, the Holders of Preferred Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Debentures. Any required approval or direction of Holders of Preferred Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Preferred Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of record of Preferred Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the Holders of the Preferred Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel I-10 77 Preferred Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities. Notwithstanding that Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred Securities that are owned by the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor shall not be entitled to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding. 6. Voting Rights - Common Securities. (a) Except as provided under Sections 6(b), (c), 7(a) and 8 as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Common Securities will have no voting rights. (b) The Holders of the Common Securities are entitled, in accordance with Article V of the Declaration, to vote to appoint, remove or replace any Trustee or to increase or decrease the number of Trustees. (c) Subject to Section 2.6 of the Declaration and only after the Event of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities has been cured, waived, or otherwise eliminated and subject to the requirements of the second to last sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities, voting separately as a class, may direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the Declaration, including (i) directing the time, method, place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default and its consequences that is waivable under Section 513 of the Indenture, or (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable. Pursuant to this Section 6(c), the Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Preferred Securities. Other than with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting any remedy available to the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Property Trustee shall not take any action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the Common Securities under this paragraph unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Declaration, any Holder of Common Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against any Person to enforce the Property Trustee's I-11 78 rights under the Declaration, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other Person. Any approval or direction of Holders of Common Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Common Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of record of Common Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities. 7. Amendments to Declaration and Indenture. (a) In addition to any requirements under Section 12.1 of the Declaration, and except for the amendments permitted by Section 12.1(g) of the Declaration, the Declaration may be amended by the Trustees and the Company with, and shall not become effective without, (i) the consent of Holders representing not less than a majority (based upon Liquidation Values) of the outstanding Securities, and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or the Trust's exemption from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act, provided that without the consent of each holder of Securities, such Declaration may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Securities as of a specified date or (ii) restrict the right of a holder of Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date. If any amendment or proposal referred to in the preceding sentence would adversely affect only the Preferred Securities or only the Common Securities, then only the affected class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the requisite vote of such class of Securities. I-12 79 (b) In the event the consent of the Property Trustee as the holder of the Debentures is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment, modification or termination on the Indenture or the Debentures, the Property Trustee shall request the written direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single class; provided, that the Property Trustee shall not take any action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the Securities under this Section 7(b) unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action. 8. Pro Rata. A reference in these terms of the Securities to any payment, distribution or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean pro rata to each Holder of Securities according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Securities outstanding unless, in relation to a payment, an Event of Default under the Declaration has occurred and is continuing, in which case any funds available to make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the Preferred Securities pro rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of Preferred Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Preferred Securities outstanding, and only after satisfaction of all amounts owed to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, to each Holder of Common Securities pro rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding. 9. Ranking. The Preferred Securities rank pari passu and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with the Common Securities except that, where a Declaration Event of Default occurs and is continuing the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights to payment of the Holders of the Preferred Securities or otherwise with respect to, the Common Securities shall be made until the Holders of the Preferred Securities shall be paid in full the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution and other payments to which they are entitled at such time. I-13 80 10. Listing. The Regular Trustees shall use their best efforts to cause the Preferred Securities to be listed for quotation on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. 11. Acceptance of Securities Guarantee and Indenture. Each Holder of Preferred Securities and Common Securities, by the acceptance thereof, agrees to the provisions of the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Common Securities Guarantee, respectively, including the subordination provisions therein and to the provisions of the Indenture. 12. No Preemptive Rights. The Holders of the Securities shall have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional securities. 13. Miscellaneous. These terms constitute a part of the Declaration. The Depositor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Preferred Securities Guarantee or the Common Securities Guarantee (as may be appropriate), and the Indenture to a Holder without charge on written request to the Trust at its principal place of business. I-14 81 EXHIBIT A-1 FORM OF PREFERRED SECURITY CERTIFICATE This Preferred Security is a Global Certificate within the meaning of the Declaration hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or a nominee of DTC. This Preferred Security is exchangeable for Preferred Securities registered in the name of a person other than DTC or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Declaration and no transfer of this Preferred Security (other than a transfer of this Preferred Security as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC) may be registered except in limited circumstances. Unless this Preferred Security is presented by an authorized representative of DTC (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the Trust or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Preferred Security issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of DTC and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein. Certificate Number Number of Preferred Securities P - CUSIP NO. _______________ Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities of Allstate Financing I ___ % Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A ("QUIPS"(SM)) (liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) Allstate Financing I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that ______________ (the "Holder") is the registered owner of preferred securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and designated the ____% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A (liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred Securities"). The Preferred Securities are transfer- A1-1 82 able on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities represented hereby are set forth in, and this certificate and the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of November __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"), including the designation of the terms of the Preferred Securities as set forth in Annex I to the Declaration. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Preferred Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Depositor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Indenture to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business. Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Preferred Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this ____ day of November, 1996. ALLSTATE FINANCING I By: --------------------------------- Name: Title: Regular Trustee A1-2 83 ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred Security Certificate to: ____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ (Insert assignee's name and social security or tax identification number) _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints _____________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ agent to transfer this Preferred Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: _______________________ Signature: __________________ (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee*: ___________________________________ __________________________________ * Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. A1-3 84 EXHIBIT A-2 THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE Certificate Number Number of Common Securities Certificate Evidencing Common Securities of Allstate Financing I _____% Common Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common Security) Allstate Financing I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that The Allstate Corporation (the "Holder") is the registered owner of ___ common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust designated the _____% Common Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common Security) (the "Common Securities"). The Common Securities are not transferable except in accordance with Section 4.1 of the Declaration (as defined below), and any attempted transfer in violation thereof shall be void. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities represented hereby are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of November __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"), including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth in Annex I to the Declaration. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Common Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Depositor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Common Securities Guarantee and the Indenture to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business. Upon receipt of this certificate, the Depositor is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. A2-1 85 By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Common Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this ___ day of November, 1996. ALLSTATE FINANCING I By: ------------------------------- Name: Title: Regular Trustee A2-2 86 ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Common Security Certificate to: ____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ (Insert assignee's name and social security or tax identification number) _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints ________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ agent to transfer this Common Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: _______________________ Signature: __________________ (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee*: ___________________________________ __________________________________ * Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. A2-3 87 EXHIBIT B SPECIMEN OF DEBENTURE B-1 88 (FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY) [IF THE SECURITY IS TO BE A GLOBAL SECURITY, INSERT - This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary. This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and no transfer of this Security (other than a transfer of this Security as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary) may be registered except in limited circumstances. Unless this Security is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Security issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.] Certificate No. $________ CUSIP No. THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION ___% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES, Series A THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to __________ or registered assigns, the principal sum of __________($__________) on __________ ___, 2026; provided that the Company may (i) shorten the maturity date at any time at the election of the Company, which shortened maturity date shall in no event be earlier than __________ ___, 2001 and (ii) extend the maturity date at any time at the election of the Company subject to certain conditions specified in Section 314 of the Indenture, which extended maturity date shall in no event be later than __________ ___, 2045. The Company further promises to pay interest on said principal sum from __________ ___, 1996, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year commencing __________ ___, 1996, at the rate of ___% B-2 89 per annum, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the rate of ___% per annum, compounded quarterly. The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. A "Business Day" shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not (i) a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by law or executive order to close or (ii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or the principal office of the Property Trustee under the Declaration hereinafter referred to for Allstate Financing I, is closed for business. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment, which shall be the close of business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date. [IF PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE THE SECURITIES ARE NO LONGER REPRESENTED BY A GLOBAL SECURITY -- which shall be the close of business on the ____ business day next preceding such Interest Payment Date.] Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders of this series of Securities not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. B-3 90 The principal of (and premium, if any) and the interest on this Security shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the United States in such coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered Holder at such address as shall appear in the Security Register. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Holder of this Security is the Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Property Trustee. The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions. Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place. Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. B-4 91 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed. THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION By: -------------------------------- Name: Title: Attest: By: -------------------------------- Name: Title: CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. Dated: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By ------------------------------- Authorized Signatory B-5 92 (FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY) This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company, designated as its ___% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A (herein referred to as the "Securities"), issued under and pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of __________ ___, 1996 between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of __________ ___, 1996, between the Company and the Trustee (the Indenture as so supplemented, the "Indenture"), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture or in the Amended and Restated Declaration, dated as of __________ ___, 1996 (the "Declaration"), of Allstate Financing I, among The Allstate Corporation, as Depositor, and the Trustees named therein, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture or the Declaration, as the case may be. So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right at any time during the term of this Security from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on such Security for up to 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each deferral period (each an "Extension Period"), during which periods interest will compound quarterly and the Company shall have the right to make partial payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date, and at the end of which the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with Additional Interest thereon to the extent permitted by applicable law); provided that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, (a) declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company (including other Securities of any series) that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to such Securities (other than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Company, (ii) redemptions or repurchases of any rights, or the declaration of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance of any security under any future rights plan of the Company, (iii) purchases or acquisitions of shares of common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any benefit plans for its or its Subsidiaries' directors, officers, B-6 93 employees or independent contractors, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock or (v) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock of the Company or the security being converted or exchanged) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend such Extension Period, provided that such Extension Period together with all such previous and further extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Maturity of this Security. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period except at the end thereof. The Company shall give the Holders of the Securities of this series and the Trustee notice of its election to begin any such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on the Securities would be payable but for such deferral or, so long as the Securities are held by the Trust prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which the Distributions on the Preferred Securities are payable or (ii) the date the Regular Trustees are required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to Holders of such Preferred Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are payable, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record date. On or after __________ ___, 2001, the Company may at any time, at its option, subject to the terms and conditions of Article Eleven of the Indenture, redeem this Security in whole at any time or in part from time to time, without premium or penalty, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption. If a Special Event in respect of Allstate Financing I shall occur and be continuing, the Company may, at its option, redeem this Security at any time within 90 days of the occurrence of such Special Event, in whole but not in part, subject to the provisions of Section 1107 and the other provisions of Article Eleven of the Indenture. The redemption price for any Security so redeemed shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption. B-7 94 In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction, discharge and defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal (and premium, if any) and interest on the Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Securities Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company maintained under Section 1002 of the Indenture duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities B-8 95 of this series, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of this Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary. [The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $______ and any integral multiple thereof.] [This Global Security is exchangeable for Securities in definitive form only under certain limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture. Securities of this series so issued are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $______ and any integral multiple thereof.] As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations [herein and] therein set forth, Securities of this series [so issued] are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. The Company and, by its acceptance of this Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, this Security agree that for United States federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that this Security constitute indebtedness. THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN THE INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF. B-9 96 EXHIBIT C UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT C-1 97 ALLSTATE FINANCING I CUMULATIVE QUARTERLY INCOME PREFERRED SECURITIES ("QUIPS") (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER PREFERRED SECURITY) GUARANTEED ON A SUBORDINATED BASIS BY THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION --------------- UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT --------------- November 20, 1996 Goldman, Sachs & Co. Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated PaineWebber Incorporated Prudential Securities Incorporated Smith Barney Inc. As representatives of the several Underwriters c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co. 85 Broad Street New York, New York 10004 Ladies and Gentlemen: From time to time Allstate Financing I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), and The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor" and, together with the Trust, the "Offerors"), as Depositor of the Trust and as Guarantor, propose to issue and sell certain of the Trust's preferred securities registered under the Registration Statement referred to in Section 2(a). The Trust and the Guarantor intend to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a "Pricing Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, C-2 98 subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in Schedule I of the Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the "Underwriters" with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the Securities specified therein) the numbers of Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $25 per preferred security) of the Trust ("Preferred Securities") specified in Schedule II to the Pricing Agreement. The Preferred Securities will be guaranteed by the Guarantor with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee") pursuant to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement identified in such Pricing Agreement (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement") between the Guarantor and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), and entitled to the benefits of certain backup undertakings described in the Prospectus with respect to the Company's agreement pursuant to the Supplemental Indenture (as defined herein) to pay all expenses relating to administration of the Trust (the "Undertakings"). The Preferred Securities and the related Preferred Securities Guarantees are referred to herein as the "Securities." The Offerors understand that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives (as defined herein) deem advisable after the Pricing Agreement has been executed and delivered, and the Declaration (as defined herein), the Indenture (as defined herein), and the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). The entire proceeds from the sale of the Securities will be combined with the entire proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Guarantor of its common securities (the "Common Securities"), as guaranteed by the Guarantor, to the extent set forth in the Prospectus, with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation and redemption (the "Common Securities Guarantee" and together with the Preferred Securities Guarantee, the "Guarantees") pursuant to the Common Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee Agreement" and, together with the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, the "Guarantee Agreements") by the Guarantor, and will be used by the Trust to purchase Junior Subor- C-3 99 dinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Subordinated Debt Securities") issued by the Guarantor. The Preferred Securities and the Common Securities will be issued pursuant to the amended and restated declaration of trust of the Trust (the "Declaration"), among the Guarantor, as Depositor, Joseph T. Kane and Jennifer M. Hagar, as regular trustees (the "Regular Trustees"), State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company, as property trustee (the "Property Trustee"), and Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc., a Delaware banking corporation, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee" and, together with the Regular Trustees and the Property Trustee, the "Trustees"), and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. The Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture (the "Base Indenture"), between the Guarantor and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (the "Debt Trustee"), and a supplement to the Base Indenture (the "Supplemental Indenture," and together with the Base Indenture and any other amendments or supplements thereto, the "Indenture"), between the Guarantor and the Debt Trustee, each as identified in such Pricing Agreement. 1. (a) Sales; Representatives. Particular sales of Securities may be made from time to time to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the firms designated as representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto will act as representatives (the "Representatives"). The term "Representatives" also refers to a single firm acting as the sole representative of the Underwriters and to Underwriters who act without any firm being designated as their representative. This Underwriting Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation of the Trust or the Guarantor to sell any of the Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the Securities. (b) Pricing Agreements. The obligation of the Trust or the Guarantor to issue and sell any of the Securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Securities specified therein. Such Pricing Agreement shall specify the number of Preferred Securities, the initial public offering price of such Preferred Securi- C-4 100 ties, the purchase price to the Underwriters of such Preferred Securities, the names of the Underwriters of such Preferred Securities, the names of the Representatives of such Underwriters and the number of such Preferred Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter. In addition, such Pricing Agreement shall set forth the date, time and manner of delivery of such Preferred Securities and payment therefor. Such Pricing Agreement shall also specify (in a manner consistent with the Declaration and the Registration Statement and prospectus with respect thereto), the principal terms of such Preferred Securities, including the terms on which, and the terms of the securities into which, the Preferred Securities will be exchangeable. A Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid transmission device designed to produce a written record of communications transmitted. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint. 2. Representations and Warranties. The Offerors jointly and severally represent and warrant to, and agree with, each of the Underwriters that: (a) The Offerors have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") (the file number of which is set forth in Schedule II to the Pricing Agreement), which has become effective, for the registration under the Act of, inter alia, the Securities. The Offerors propose to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act a supplement or supplements to the form of prospectus included in such registration statement relating to the Securities and the plan of distribution thereof. Such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, as amended at the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter called the "Registration Statement"; such prospectus in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement is hereinafter called the "Basic Prospectus"; and such supplemented form of prospectus, in the form in which it shall be first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 (including the Basic Prospectus as so supplemented) is hereinafter called the "Final Prospectus." Any preliminary form of the Final C-5 101 Prospectus which has heretofore been filed pursuant to Rule 424 is hereinafter called the "Preliminary Final Prospectus." Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") on or before the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms "amend," "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference; (b) As of the date hereof, when the Final Prospectus is first filed or transmitted for filing pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, when the Registration Statement became effective, when, prior to any Time of Delivery (as hereinafter defined) with respect to any Preferred Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective (including the filing of any document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement), when any supplement to the Final Prospectus is filed with the Commission and at the Time of Delivery, (i) the Registration Statement, as amended as of any such time, and the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as applicable, and the Indenture, the Declaration and the Guarantee Agreements will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), and the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder and (ii) neither the Registration Statement, as amended as of any such time, nor the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of such time, as applicable, will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Offerors make no representations or warranties C-6 102 as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statements of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustees (the "Form T-1s") or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to such Underwriter or the underwriting arrangements furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter specifically for use in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus. (c) Each document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus will comply in all material respects, as amended at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, with the Exchange Act. (d) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Guarantor and the Trust. (e) Except as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse change in, or any adverse development which materially affects, the business, properties, financial condition or results of operations of the Trust or the Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole from the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus, there has not been any change in the consolidated capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of options and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance shares and upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus) or any material increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Final Prospectus. C-7 103 (f) The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing as a statutory business trust in good standing under the Business Trust Act of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Act") with the power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement thereto; the Trust is not a party to or bound by any agreement or instrument other than those described in the Final Prospectus; and the Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes. (g) The Common Securities have been duly authorized by the Declaration and, when issued and delivered by the Trust to the Guarantor against payment therefor as described in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus, will be validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) fully paid and non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust; the issuance of the Common Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights; and at the First Time of Delivery (as hereinafter defined) all of the issued and outstanding Common Securities of the Trust will be directly owned by the Guarantor free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. (h) The Declaration has been duly authorized by the Guarantor and, at the First Time of Delivery, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantor and the Regular Trustees, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Declaration by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the Declaration will, at the First Time of Delivery, be a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor and the Regular Trustees, enforceable against the Guarantor and the Regular Trustees in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally or by general principles of equity (the "Bankruptcy Exceptions"); and at the First Time of Delivery, the Declaration will have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. (i) Each of the Guarantee Agreements has been duly authorized by the Guarantor and, when validly C-8 104 executed and delivered by the Guarantor, and, in the case of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement by the Guarantee Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; and the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, at the Time of Delivery, will have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. (j) The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized by the Declaration and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth in the Pricing Agreement, will be validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) fully paid and non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the Trust and will be entitled to the benefits of the Declaration; the issuance of the Preferred Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights; and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) holders of Preferred Securities will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability under Delaware law as extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit. (k) The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Guarantor and, when validly executed and delivered by the Guarantor, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; and at the First Time of Delivery, the Indenture will have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. (l) The Subordinated Debt Securities have been duly authorized by the Guarantor and, at the Time of Delivery for the related Preferred Securities, will have been duly executed by the Guarantor and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor as described in the Final Prospectus, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with their terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy C-9 105 Exceptions, and will be in the form contemplated by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture. (m) Each of the Regular Trustees of the Trust is an employee of the Guarantor and has been duly authorized by the Guarantor to execute and deliver the Declaration; the Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Regular Trustees and is a valid and binding obligation of each Regular Trustee, enforceable against such Regular Trustee in accordance with its terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions. (n) The issue and sale of the Preferred Securities pursuant to the Pricing Agreement, and compliance by the Offerors with all of the provisions of the Securities, this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Indenture, the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees, will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other material agreement to which the Trust, the Guarantor or any of the subsidiaries listed in Annex III hereto (each, a "Principal Subsidiary") is a party or by which the Trust, the Guarantor or any of the Principal Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Trust, the Guarantor or any of the Principal Subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Declaration or Certificate of Trust of the Trust or the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Guarantor or any of the Principal Subsidiaries or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or insurance regulatory authority or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Trust, the Guarantor or any of the Principal Subsidiaries or any of their properties, in each case other than such breaches, conflicts, violations or defaults which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on the Trust or the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a whole and would not affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Indenture, the Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees, and no authorization, approval, order, consent, registration or qualification of or with any such court or insurance regulatory authority or other C-10 106 governmental agency or body is required for the issue or sale of the Securities, except (i) the registration under the Act of the Securities; and (ii) such authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act or state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters, in each case other than such authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications which (individually or in the aggregate) the failure to make, obtain or comply with would not have a material adverse effect on the Trust or the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a whole and would not affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Indenture, the Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees. 3. Terms of Sale. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement and authorization by the Representatives of the release of the Preferred Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such Preferred Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented. 4. Delivery of Preferred Securities. Preferred Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to the Pricing Agreement, in definitive form to the extent practicable, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice to the Trust and the Guarantor, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Trust to the Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor in the funds specified in the Pricing Agreement, all at the place and time and date specified in the Pricing Agreement or at such other place and time and date as the Representatives and the Trust and the Guarantor may agree upon in writing, such time and date being herein called the "Time of Delivery" for such Securities. As used herein, "Time of Delivery" shall mean the First Time of Delivery (as defined in the Pricing Agreement) and, if the Pricing Agreement provides for an Underwriters' over-allotment option, all references herein to a "Time of Delivery" shall also mean the time and date for delivery of Securities purchased upon exercise of such over-allot- C-11 107 ment option as specified by the Underwriters pursuant to the Pricing Agreement. 5. Offeror Covenants. The Offerors jointly and severally agree with each of the Underwriters as follows: (a) (i) To prepare the Final Prospectus as amended and supplemented in relation to the Preferred Securities in a form approved by the Representatives and to timely file such Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act; (ii) to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing Agreement and prior to the Time of Delivery for such Preferred Securities unless the Representatives for such Preferred Securities shall have had a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon any such amendment or supplement prior to any filing thereof; (iii) to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; (iv) to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Guarantor with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of such Preferred Securities, and during such same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of (I) the time when any amendment to any Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Final Prospectus or any amended Final Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, (II) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Final Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, (III) the suspension of the qualification of such Preferred Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or (IV) any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of any Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of the Final Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal; C-12 108 (b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Preferred Securities (and the Preferred Securities Guarantee) and the Subordinated Debt Securities for offering and sale under the securities and insurance securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of such Preferred Securities, provided that in connection therewith none of the Offerors shall be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction; (c) To furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time in connection with the offering or sale of such Preferred Securities, and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Final Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or supplement the Final Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Final Prospectus or a supplement to the Final Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; (d) The Trust will make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the later filed of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)), an earnings statement of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries (which need C-13 109 not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including, at the option of the Guarantor, Rule 158); and (e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing Agreement for any Preferred Securities and continuing to and including the earlier of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for Preferred Securities, as determined by the Representatives and (ii) 30 days after the First Time of Delivery for such Preferred Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any Preferred Securities, any other beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, or any preferred securities or any other securities of the Trust or the Guarantor which are substantially similar to the Preferred Securities, including any guarantee of such securities, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for or representing the right to receive securities, preferred securities or any such substantially similar securities of either the Trust or the Guarantor (collectively, "Similar Securities"), without the prior written consent of the Representatives, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, except for (i) the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Preferred Securities issued pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) following consultation with Goldman, Sachs & Co. on behalf of the Representatives, sales primarily to institutions of (A) preferred securities together, without duplication, with an equivalent aggregate principal amount of securities substantially similar to the Subordinated Debt Securities issued to the issuer of such preferred securities or (B) any other Similar Securities; provided that the aggregate principal amount or liquidation amount, without duplication, of the securities issued pursuant to clause (ii) shall not exceed an amount equal to $750 million less the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities Offered hereby. 6. Fees and Expenses. The Guarantor covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Guarantor will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Guarantor's counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Preferred Securities, the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Subordinated Debt Securities under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration State- C-14 110 ment, Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, any Blue Sky Survey and any Legal Investment Memoranda; (iii) all reasonable expenses in connection with the qualification of the Preferred Securities, the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Subordinated Debt Securities for offering and sale under state securities and insurance securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and Legal Investment surveys; (iv) the filing fees incident to securing any required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; (v) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Preferred Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the Preferred Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Debt Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Debt Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Securities; (viii) the fees and expenses of the Property Trustee, and the Guarantee Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Property Trustee in connection with the Declaration and the Certificate of Trust; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, Section 8 and Section 11 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Preferred Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make. 7. Conditions to Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder and under the Pricing Agreement to purchase Securities at a Time of Delivery shall be subject to the condition that all representations and warranties of the Offerors herein are, at and as of the Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Offerors shall have performed all of their respective obligations hereunder to be performed C-15 111 at or before such Time of Delivery, and the following additional conditions: (a) The Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the Preferred Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives' reasonable satisfaction; (b) Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the Representatives such opinion or opinions, dated such Time of Delivery, with respect to the incorporation of the Guarantor and the formation of the Trust, the validity of the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Preferred Securities Guarantee, the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and such other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters; (c) Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (ILLINOIS), special counsel for the Guarantor, shall have furnished to you their written opinion, dated as of such Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, to the effect that: (i) The Guarantor has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus; and each of Allstate Insurance Company ("AIC") and Allstate Life Insurance Company ("ALIC") is validly existing as an insurance corporation under the laws of the State of Illinois, with corporate power and authority to own its prop- C-16 112 erties and conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus; (ii) The issue and sale of the Preferred Securities and the performance by the Offerors of their respective obligations under this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Preferred Securities, the Common Securities, the Indenture, the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other material agreement or instrument relating to the Trust or the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries, as such agreements or instruments have been amended, all as set forth on a schedule of such agreements identified to such counsel by officers of the Guarantor; nor will any such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Guarantor or the Declaration or the Certificate of Trust of the Trust or any applicable United States law or statute or any order, rule or regulation of any United States court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Guarantor, its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, provided, that the foregoing opinion is limited to those statutes, laws, rules and regulations of the United States of America, the State of Delaware and the State of Illinois, in each case, which, in such counsel's opinion, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by this Agreement, and provided further, that no opinion need be given with respect to (i) the Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture Act, the rules and regulations issued pursuant to each such act, any order, rule or regulation made or established by any insurance official or regulatory authority or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution C-17 113 of the Preferred Securities by the Underwriters or (ii) conflicts, breaches or violations which individually and in the aggregate both are not material to the Trust or the Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and would not have a material adverse effect on the sale or ownership of the Preferred Securities or the Subordinated Debt Securities. (iii) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any United States court or governmental agency or body is required for the issuance and sale of the Common Securities or the offering of the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debt Securities or the Guarantees or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that we express no opinion with respect to such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications (i) as may be required under the Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture Act, the rules and regulations issued pursuant to each such act, any order, rule or regulation made or established by any insurance official or regulatory authority or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or (ii) as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws, (iii) the absence of which individually or in the aggregate both are not material to the Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and would not have a material adverse effect on the sale or ownership of the Preferred Securities or the Subordinated Debt Securities or (iv) as may be required under foreign laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Preferred Securities by any international managers; provided, that the foregoing opinion is limited to those consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations and qualifications under laws which, in our experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement have been duly authorized, C-18 114 executed and delivered by each of the Trust and the Guarantor; (v) The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Act; all filings required under the laws of the State of Delaware with respect to the formation and valid existence of the Trust as a business trust have been made; the Trust has all necessary power and authority to own property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities; (vi) The Common Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the Declaration, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, and the issuance of the Common Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights; (vii) The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the Declaration and this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust; the holders of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability under Delaware law as is extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit; and the issuance of the Preferred Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights. Such counsel may bring to your attention that the Preferred Securities holders may be obligated, pursuant to the Declaration, to (a) provide indemnity and/or security in connection with and pay taxes or governmental charges arising from transfers of Preferred Securities and the issuance of replacement Preferred Securities, C-19 115 and (b) provide security and indemnity in connection with requests of or directions to the Property Trustee to exercise its rights and powers under the Declaration; and the Declaration has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; (viii) No registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, is required of the Trust in connection with the initial issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities, or of the Guarantor in connection with the initial issuance and sale of the Subordinated Debt Securities or the Guarantee; (ix) The summaries set forth in the Final Prospectus, insofar as they are summaries of contracts, agreements or other legal documents, or refer to statements of law or legal conclusions, of certain terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities, the Common Securities, the Guarantee, the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Indenture are in all material respects accurate summaries of such terms and provisions; (x) The Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any further amendments thereto made by the Guarantor prior to such Time of Delivery for the Preferred Securities (in each case other than with respect to the financial statements and financial and accounting data and related schedules incorporated by reference or included therein or excluded therefrom, or the exhibits to the Registration Statement including the Form T-1s, as to which such counsel need express no opinion or belief), appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and, such counsel shall not be deemed to be passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in C-20 116 the Registration Statement and Final Prospectus; and (xi) As such counsel, such counsel reviewed the Registration Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, participated in discussions with representatives of the Underwriters and of the Guarantor and its accountants at which contents of the Registration Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and related matters were discussed; on the basis of the information that such counsel gained in the course of the performance of their services referred to above, although such counsel shall not be deemed to be passing upon and shall not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectuses and not be required to have made an independent check or verification thereof, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel in the course of such review which have led such counsel to believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Guarantor prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and the financial and accounting data and related schedules incorporated by reference or included therein or excluded therefrom, or the exhibits to the Registration Statement including the Form T-1s, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that, as of its date, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Guarantor prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and financial and accounting data and related schedules incorporated by reference or included therein or excluded therefrom, or the exhibits to the Registration Statement including the Form T-1s, as to which such coun- C-21 117 sel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading or that, as of such Time of Delivery, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Guarantor prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and financial and accounting data and related schedules incorporated by reference or included therein or excluded therefrom, or the exhibits to the Registration Statement including the Form T-1s, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading. In rendering their opinion as aforesaid, such counsel may rely upon an opinion or opinions, each dated such Time of Delivery, of its affiliates as to laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States, the State of Illinois and any matters relating to the Delaware business organizational statutes (including statutes relating to Delaware Business Trusts). (d) Robert W. Pike, Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Guarantor, shall have furnished to you his written opinion, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, to the effect that: (i) Each Principal Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as an insurance corporation under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; (ii) All of the issued shares of capital stock of each Principal Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, and are owned of record directly or indirectly by the Guarantor, AIC or ALIC, as the case may be (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of C-22 118 the opinion in this clause upon opinions of local or in-house counsel and in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the Guarantor or its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that he believes that both you and he are justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates); (iii) Each Principal Subsidiary is duly licensed or authorized as an insurer or reinsurer in each other jurisdiction where it is required to be so licensed, except where the failure to be so licensed or authorized in any such jurisdiction does not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a whole; the Guarantor and each Principal Subsidiary have made all required filings under applicable insurance holding company statutes, and each is duly licensed or authorized as an insurance holding company in each jurisdiction where it is required to be so licensed, except where the failure to have made such filings or to be so licensed or authorized in any such jurisdiction does not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a whole; the Guarantor and each Principal Subsidiary have all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications of and from all insurance regulatory authorities to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Final Prospectus, except where the failure to have such authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications does not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a whole; and none of the Guarantor or any Principal Subsidiary has received any notification from any insurance regulatory authority to the effect that any additional authorization, approval, order, consent, registration or qualification from such insurance regulatory authority is needed to be obtained by any of the Guarantor C-23 119 or any Principal Subsidiary in any case where it could be reasonably expected that (x) the Guarantor or any Principal Subsidiary would in fact be required either to obtain any such additional authorization, approval, order, consent, registration or qualification or cease or otherwise limit writing certain business and (y) obtaining such authorization, approval, order, consent, license, certificate, permit, registration or qualification or limiting such business would have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position or results of operations of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, considered as a whole (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this clause upon opinions of local or in-house counsel and in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the Guarantor or its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that he believes that both you and he are justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates); (iv) Each Principal Subsidiary is in compliance with the requirements of the insurance laws and regulations of its state of incorporation and the insurance laws and regulations of other jurisdictions which are applicable to such Principal Subsidiary, and has filed all notices, reports, documents or other information required to be filed thereunder, or is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure to so comply or file (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of this clause upon opinions of local or in-house counsel and in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that he believes that both you and he are justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates); (v) The Trust is duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign company in any other jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary, except to the extent that the failure to so qualify or be in good stand- C-24 120 ing would not have a material adverse effect on the Trust; and the Trust is not a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement other than those described in the Final Prospectus; (vi) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as set forth in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a whole; and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened; (vii) The issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, and the performance by the Offerors of their respective obligations under the Preferred Securities, this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Common Securities, the Indenture, the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will not result in any violation of any order, rule or regulation known to such counsel of any insurance regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, other than such breaches, conflicts, violations or defaults which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a whole (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this clause upon opinions of local or in-house counsel and in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the Guarantor or its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that he C-25 121 believes that both you and he are justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates); (viii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Trust and the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, as applicable, have filed all notices, reports, documents or other information required to be filed pursuant to, and have obtained all authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications required to be obtained under, and have otherwise complied with all requirements of, all applicable insurance laws and regulations known to such counsel in connection with the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities and, except as have been obtained pursuant to the foregoing clause, no filing, authorization, approval, order, consent, registration or qualification of or with any insurance regulatory agency having jurisdiction over the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties known to such counsel is required for the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Indenture, the Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees, except such filings, authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications which (individually or in the aggregate) the failure to make, obtain or comply with would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a whole and would not affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Indenture, the Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees; (ix) Each of the Guarantee Agreements has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Guarantor; the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, assuming it is duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Guarantee Trustee, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforce- C-26 122 able against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by Bankruptcy Exceptions; and the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; (x) The Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantor and, assuming due authorization, execution, and delivery thereof by the Debt Trustee, is a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions, and the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; (xi) The Subordinated Debt Securities are in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Guarantor and, when authenticated by the Debt Trustee in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; (xii) The Declaration has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Guarantor and each of the Regular Trustees and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor and each of the Regular Trustees, enforceable against the Guarantor and each of the Regular Trustees in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; (xiii) As general counsel to the Guarantor, such counsel reviewed the Registration Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, participated in various discussions with representatives of the Underwrit- C-27 123 ers and of the Guarantor and its accountants at which contents of the Registration Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented were discussed; on the basis of the information that such counsel gained in the course of his activities referred to above, such counsel confirms that the Registration Statement, as of its effective date, and the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented (in each case other than with respect to the financial statements, financial and accounting data and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion or belief), appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and, although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented (except as expressly set forth in such opinion), on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel in the course of such review which has caused such counsel to believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Offerors prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and financial and accounting data and related schedules therein and other than information under the captions "Description of Debt Securities," "Description of Debt Warrants," "Description of Preferred Stock," "Description of Preferred Securities," "Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees" and "Plan of Distribution" in the Basic Prospectus and in the descriptions of Preferred Securities, Preferred Securities Guarantees, Subordinated Debt Securities and underwriting matters contained in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement C-28 124 therein not misleading or that, as of its date, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Offerors prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and financial and accounting data and related schedules therein and other than information under the captions "Description of Debt Securities," "Description of Debt Warrants," "Description of Preferred Stock," "Description of Preferred Securities," "Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees" and "Plan of Distribution" in the Basic Prospectus and in the descriptions of Preferred Securities, Preferred Securities Guarantees, Subordinated Debt Securities and underwriting matters contained in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or that, as of such Time of Delivery, either the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement (when considered together with the document to which such supplement relates) thereto made by the Offerors prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and financial and accounting data and related schedules therein and other than information under the captions "Description of Debt Securities," "Description of Debt Warrants," "Description of Preferred Stock," "Description of Preferred Securities," "Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees" and "Plan of Distribution" in the Basic Prospectus and in the descriptions of Preferred Securities, Preferred Securities Guarantees, Subordinated Debt Securities, and underwriting matters contained in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they C-29 125 were made, not misleading; and he does not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to be filed or of any contracts or other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by reference into the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented which are not filed or described as required, in each case, other than with respect to the information under the captions "Description of Debt Securities," "Description of Debt Warrants," "Description of Preferred Stock," "Description of Preferred Securities," Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees" and "Plan of Distribution" in the Basic Prospectus and in the descriptions of Preferred Securities, Preferred Securities Guarantees, Subordinated Debt Securities and underwriting matters contained in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented; and (xiv) On the basis of the information that such counsel gained in the course of the review referred to in paragraph (xiii) above (but without passing upon or assuming any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the documents described below), such counsel confirms that no facts have come to the attention of such counsel in the course of such review which have caused such counsel to believe that the documents incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements and financial and accounting data and related schedules therein or excluded therefrom, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, did not comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and he has no reason to believe that any of such documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as the case C-30 126 may be, contained, in the case of a registration statement which became effective under the Act, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or, in the case of other documents which were filed under the Act or the Exchange Act with the Commission, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such documents were so filed, not misleading. (e) Shipman & Goodwin, counsel of State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the Declaration, and Guarantee Trustee under the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreements, shall have furnished to you their written opinion, dated as of such Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, to the effect that: (i) State Street Bank and Trust Company is a Massachusetts trust company with trust powers, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of the Declaration and the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement; (ii) The execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of the Declaration and the execution, delivery and performance by the Guarantee Trustee of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Property Trustee, in the case of the Declaration, and the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement. The Declaration and the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the Property Trustee, in the case of the Declaration, and the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of C-31 127 the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Property Trustee, in the case of the Declaration, and the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, enforceable against the Property Trustee, in the case of the Declaration, and the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; (iii) The execution, delivery and performance of the Declaration and the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement by the Property Trustee, in the case of the Declaration, and the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the Articles of Organization or Bylaws of the Property Trustee, in the case of the Declaration, or the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement; and (iv) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any Massachusetts or federal banking authority is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Property Trustee of the Declaration or by the Guarantee Trustee of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement. (f) Morris, James, Hitchens & Williams, counsel of Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc., as Delaware Trustee under the Declaration, shall have furnished to you their written opinion, dated as of such Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, to the effect that: (i) Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc. is a Delaware banking corporation with trust powers, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver, and to C-32 128 carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of the Declaration; (ii) The execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of the Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Delaware Trustee. The Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against the Delaware Trustee, in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; (iii) The execution, delivery and performance of the Declaration by the Delaware Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the Articles of Organization or Bylaws of the Delaware Trustee; and (iv) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any banking or trust authority of the State of Delaware or federal banking authority governing the banking and trust powers of the Delaware Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee of the Declaration. (g) The opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (ILLINOIS), special tax counsel to the Guarantor and the Trust, generally to the effect that: (i) Under current law, the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation; (ii) Under current law the Subordinated Debt Securities will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as indebtedness of the Guarantor; and C-33 129 (iii) The discussion set forth in the Final Prospectus under the heading "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences," to the extent it constitutes matters of law or legal conclusions, is correct in all material respects. Such opinion may be conditioned on, among other things, the initial and continuing accuracy of the facts, financial and other information, covenants and representations set forth in certificates of officers of the Guarantor and the Trust and other documents deemed necessary for such opinion. (h) On the date of the Pricing Agreement and such Time of Delivery, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the effective date of the later filed of the Registration Statement or the most recent report filed with the Commission containing financial statements and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement if the date of such report is later than such effective date, and a letter dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, to the effect set forth in Annex II hereto, and with respect to such letter dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives. (i) Except as contemplated in the Preliminary Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Preliminary Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement until such Time of Delivery, there shall not have been any change in the consolidated capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of options and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance shares and upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Final Prospectus) or any material increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Preliminary Final Prospectus as amended or supple- C-34 130 mented prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement, the effect of which, in any such case is in the judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Preliminary Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement. (j) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Guarantor's debt securities or financial strength or claims paying ability by any of Moody's Investor Services, Inc., Standard & Poor's Corporation or A.M. Best & Co. and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Guarantor's debt securities or financial strength or claims paying ability, the effect of which, in any such case described in Clause (i) or (ii), is in your judgment (after consultation with the Guarantor) so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the pubic offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Preliminary Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement; (k) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York declared by either Federal or New York State authorities; or (iii) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, if the effect of any such event specified in this clause (iii) in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Preliminary Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement; and (l) The Guarantor shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives at such C-35 131 Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the Guarantor reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Guarantor herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Guarantor of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (j) of this Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request. 8.(a) Indemnification and Contribution. The Offerors will, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement (when considered together with the document to which such supplement relates) thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Offerors shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Offerors by any Underwriter of Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities and, provided, further, that the Offerors shall not be liable to any Underwriter under the indemnity agreement in this subsection (a) with respect to any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the C-36 132 Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as the case may be, to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter results from the fact such Underwriter sold Securities to a person to whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the Final Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein) or of the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein), whichever is most recent, in any case where such delivery is required by the Act if the Guarantor had previously furnished copies thereof to such Underwriter and the loss, claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter results from an untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Final Prospectus which was corrected in the Final Prospectus (or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented). (b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Offerors against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Offerors may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement (when considered together with the document to which such supplement relates) thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Offerors by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Offerors for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Offerors in C-37 133 connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly, with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party and who may act in respect of actions involving more than one indemnified party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8, an indemnifying party shall only be liable for the legal fees and expenses of one national counsel and appropriate local counsel for the indemnified parties with respect to any proceeding or related proceedings and in connection with any one such action, suit or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions, suits or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of only one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for all such Underwriters and controlling persons not having actual or potential differing interests with you or among themselves, which firm shall be designated in writing by Goldman, Sachs & Co. C-38 134 (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Offerors on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Securities on the other from the offering of the Securities to which any such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Offerors on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable consideration. In addition, if the indemnified party is not entitled to receive the indemnification provided for in subsection (a) above because of the second proviso thereof, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Offerors on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative benefits received by the Offerors on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Offerors bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus relating to such Securities. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to C-39 135 state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Offerors on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. With respect to any such Underwriter, such relative fault shall also be determined by reference to the extent (if any) to which such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) with respect to any Preliminary Final Prospectus result from the fact that such Underwriter sold Securities to a person to whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the Final Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein) or of the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein), if the Offerors had previously furnished copies thereof to such Underwriter. The Offerors and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Securities and not joint. C-40 136 (e) The obligations of the Offerors under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Offerors may otherwise have and shall extend upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Guarantor (including any person who, with his consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the Guarantor), to each trustee of the Trust and to each person, if any, who controls an Offeror within the meaning of the Act. 9. (a) Defaulting Underwriters. If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Securities which it has agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase the Securities on the terms contained herein and in such Pricing Agreement. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Offerors shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, the Representatives notify the Offerors that the Representatives have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, or the Offerors notify the Representatives that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, the Representatives or the Offerors shall have the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for such Securities for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Offerors agree to file promptly any amendments to the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like C-41 137 effect as if such person had originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement. (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of any defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Offerors as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of the Securities to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, then the Offerors shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default. (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Offerors as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the number of all such Securities to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, or if the Offerors shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Offerors, except for the expenses to be borne by the Guarantor and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default. 10. Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Offerors and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall C-42 138 remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, or the Offerors or any officer or director or controlling person of the Offerors and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. 11. Effect of Termination of Pricing Agreement or Nondelivery of Securities. If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Offerors shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Securities except as provided in Section 6 and Section 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason, Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Offerors as provided herein, the Guarantor will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of such Securities, but the Offerors shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter in respect of such Securities except as provided in Section 6 and Section 8 hereof. 12. Reliance Upon Representatives. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives shall act on behalf of the Underwriters of Securities and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement. 13. Notices. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the Pricing Agreement; if to the Guarantor and the Trust, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to their respective addresses set forth in the Registration Statement; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, C-43 139 which address will be supplied to the Offerors by the Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof. 14. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Offerors, and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Guarantor, the trustees of the Trust and each person who controls an Offeror or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase. 15. Time; "Business Day." Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used herein, the term "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in Washington, D.C. is open for business. 16. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PRICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 17. Counterparts. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. C-44 140 If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us eleven counterparts hereof. Very truly yours, THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION By:______________________________ Name: Title: ALLSTATE FINANCING I By: The Allstate Corporation, as Depositor By:______________________________ Name: Title: Accepted as of the date hereof: Goldman, Sachs & Co. Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated PaineWebber Incorporated Prudential Securities Incorporated Smith Barney Inc. By:____________________________ (Goldman, Sachs & Co.) On behalf of each of the Underwriters C-45 141 ANNEX I TO UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT PRICING AGREEMENT _________, ____ [ ] As representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto c/o [ ] Ladies and Gentlemen: Allstate Financing [I], a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), and The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor" and, together with the Trust, the "Offerors"), propose, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated ___________, ____ (the "Underwriting Agreement"), among the Offerors on the one hand and _________________________________________________________ on the other hand, to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") the Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Securities"). Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each representation and warranty which refers to the Final Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Final Prospectus (as therein defined) and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Securities CI-1 142 which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters of the Securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in Section 13 of the Underwriting Agreement are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto. An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Securities, in the form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the Commission. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Offerors agree to sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Trust, at the time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto, the number of [Firm] Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto [and if and to the extent the Underwriters' overallotment option is exercised the number of Optional Securities to be purchased by such Underwriter in accordance with Schedule II hereto]. If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us [ ] counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement among each of the Underwriters and the Offerors. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Offerors for examination upon request, but without war- CI-2 143 ranty on the part of the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof. Very truly yours, THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION By:________________________________ Name: Title: ALLSTATE FINANCING [I] By: The Allstate Corporation, as Depositor By:________________________________ Name: Title: Accepted as of the date hereof: [ ] On behalf of each of the Underwriters CI-3 144 SCHEDULE I TO ANNEX I CI-4
[Number of Optional Number Securities to of [Firm] be Purchased if Securities to Maximum Option Underwriters Be Purchased Exercised - ------------ ------------- --------------- - ------------------ . . . . . . . - ------------------ . . . . . . . - ------------------ . . . . . . . - ------------------ . . . . . . . [Names of Underwriters] -------- -------- Total . . ] ======== ======== 145 SCHEDULE II TO ANNEX I UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT DATED ______________, ____ REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. __________ TITLE, PURCHASE PRICE AND DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES Title:___% ______________ Preferred Securities ("__") (Liquidation Amount of $_____ Per Security) Aggregate Number: Price to Public: Purchase Price per Security to be Paid by Underwriters: Compensation Per Security to be Paid by the Guarantor to the Underwriters: Specified Funds for payment of purchase price: [First] Time of Delivery: Provisions for Over-allotment Option: Declaration: Indenture: Guarantees: Other Provisions: NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES: Representatives: Address for Notices, etc.: CI-5 146 ANNEX II TO UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT Pursuant to Section 7(h) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that: (i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect to the Guarantor and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder; (ii) In their opinion, the financial statements, certain summary and selected consolidated financial and operating data, and any supplementary financial information and schedules (and, if applicable, pro forma financial information) audited by them and included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or the Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published rules and regulations thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, and any supplementary financial information and schedules, selected financial data, pro forma financial information, prospective financial statements and/or condensed financial statements derived from audited financial statements of the Guarantor for the periods specified in such letter, and, as indicated in their report thereon, copies of which have been furnished to the representatives of the Underwriters (the "Representatives"); (iii) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other information referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim financial statements of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, inspection of the minute books of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries since the date of the CII-1 147 latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, inquiries of officials of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that: (A) the unaudited consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows and certain summary and selected consolidated financial and operating data included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published rules and regulations thereunder; (B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented do not agree with the corresponding items in the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited data and items were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented; (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented but from which were derived any unaudited condensed financial statements referred to in Clause (A) and any unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as CII-2 148 amended or supplemented and referred to in Clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the audited consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented; (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements. (E) as of a specified date not more than five business days prior to the date of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated capital stock or any increase in the consolidated borrowings or consolidated reserve for property-liability insurance claims and claims expense or consolidated reserve for life insurance policy benefits, or asset reserves of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, or any decreases in consolidated fixed income securities available for sale, consolidated equity securities, consolidated investments or shareholder equity, or any decrease in AIC's or ALIC's statutory capital and surplus, or other items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, except in each case for changes, increases or decreases which the Final Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and CII-3 149 (F) for the period from the date of the latest financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the specified date referred to in Clause (E) there were any decreases in consolidated premiums earned, consolidated net investment income, or other items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with the comparable period of the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding length specified by the Representatives, except in each case for decreases or increases which the Final Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and (iv) In addition to the examination referred to in their report(s) included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and the limited procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures referred to in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) above, they have carried out certain procedures as specified in their letter, not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the Representatives, which are derived from the general accounting records of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, which appear or are incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain of such specified amounts, percentages and financial information with the accounting records of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries and have found them to be in agreement. CII-4 150 ANNEX III TO UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT CIII-1
PRINCIPAL JURISDICTION SUBSIDIARIES OF INCORPORATION ------------ ---------------- Allstate Insurance Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . Illinois Allstate Life Insurance Company . . . . . . . . . . Illinois
1 Exhibit 4.3 ================================================================================ THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION TO STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE Dated as of November 25, 1996 7.95% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A ================================================================================ 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ---- ARTICLE I Relation to Indenture; Definitions Section 1.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Section 1.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ARTICLE II The Series of Securities Section 2.1. Title of the Securities . . . . . . 3 Section 2.2. Limitation on Aggregate Princi- pal Amount; Date of Securities. . . 3 Section 2.3. Principal Payment Date. . . . . . . 4 Section 2.4. Interest and Interest Rates . . . . 4 Section 2.5. Extension of Interest Payment Period. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Section 2.6. Place of Payment. . . . . . . . . . 7 Section 2.7. Redemption. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Section 2.8. Exchange. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Section 2.9. Denomination. . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Section 2.10. Currency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Section 2.11. Form of Securities. . . . . . . . . 8 Section 2.12. Securities Registrar and Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Section 2.13. Sinking Fund Obligations. . . . . . 8 ARTICLE III Expenses Section 3.1. Payment of Expenses . . . . . . . . 8 Section 3.2. Payment Upon Resignation or Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 ARTICLE IV Covenant to List on Exchange Section 4.1 Listing on an Exchange. . . . . . . 9 i 3 PAGE ---- ARTICLE V Miscellaneous Provisions Section 5.1. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Section 5.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Section 5.3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Section 5.4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 ii 4 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE $515,463,925 7.95% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of November 25, 1996, between THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION, a Delaware Corporation (the "Company"), and STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a trust company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as Trustee (the "Trustee"). RECITALS The Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities, dated as of November 25, 1996 (the "Indenture"), providing for the issuance from time to time of series of the Company's Securities. Section 301 of the Indenture provides for various matters with respect to any series of Securities issued under the Indenture to be established in an indenture supplemental to the Indenture. Section 901(7) of the Indenture provides for the Company and the Trustee to enter into an indenture supplemental to the Indenture to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as provided by Sections 201 and 301 of the Indenture. NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH: For and in consideration of the premises and the issuance of the series of Securities provided for herein, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities of such series, as follows: 2 5 ARTICLE I Relation to Indenture; Definitions Section 1.1 This First Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Indenture. Section 1.2 For all purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture: (a) Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings specified in the Indenture or in the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of November 25, 1996 (the "Declaration"), of Allstate Financing I, among the Company, as Depositor, State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Property Trustee, Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc., as Delaware Trustee, and the Regular Trustees named therein, as the case may be; (b) All references herein to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this First Supplemental Indenture; and (c) The terms "herein", "hereof", "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this First Supplemental Indenture. ARTICLE II The Series of Securities Section 2.1 Title of the Securities. There shall be a series of Securities designated the "7.95% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A" (the "Securities"). Section 2.2 Limitation on Aggregate Principal Amount; Date of Securities. The aggregate principal amount of the Securities shall be limited to $515,463,925, plus up to an additional $77,319,600 aggregate principal amount of the Securities in the event that the over-allotment option, as provided for in the Underwriting Agreement, is exercised; provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of the Securities may be increased above such amount by a Board Reso- 3 6 lution to such effect. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Section 2.3 Principal Payment Date. The principal amount of the Securities Outstanding (together with any accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest thereon, if any) shall be payable in a single installment on December 31, 2026, which date shall be the Stated Maturity of the Securities Outstanding; provided that the Company may (i) shorten the Stated Maturity at any time at the election of the Company, which shortened Stated Maturity shall in no event be earlier than November 25, 2001 and (ii) extend the Stated Maturity at any time at the election of the Company subject to certain conditions specified in Section 314 of the Indenture, which extended Stated Maturity shall in no event be later than December 31, 2045. Section 2.4 Interest and Interest Rates. The rate of interest on each Security shall be 7.95% per annum, accruing from November 25, 1996, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to Section 2.5) in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year commencing December 31, 1996, at the rate of 7.95% per annum, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the rate of 7.95% per annum, compounded quarterly. The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect 4 7 as if made on such date. A "Business Day" shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not (i) a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by law or executive order to close or (ii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or the principal office of the Property Trustee under the Declaration hereinafter referred to for Allstate Financing I, is closed for business. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment, which shall be the close of business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date. The Regular Record Date for the Securities shall be the close of business on the Business Day next preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date; provided that if the Securities are no longer represented by a Global Security, the Regular Record Date shall be the 15th day of the month in which an Interest Payment Date is scheduled. Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders of this series of Securities not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Section 2.5 Extension of Interest Payment Period. So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right at any time during the term of the Securities of this series from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on such Securities for up to 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each deferral period (each an "Extension Period"), during which periods interest will compound quarterly and the Company shall have the right to make 5 8 partial payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date, and at the end of which the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with Additional Interest thereon, if any, to the extent permitted by applicable law); provided that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, (a) declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company (including other Securities of any series) that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to such Securities (other than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Company, (ii) redemptions or repurchases of any rights, or the declaration of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance of any security under any future rights plan of the Company, (iii) purchases or acquisitions of shares of common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any benefit plans for its or its Subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees or independent contractors, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock or (v) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock of the Company or the security being converted or exchanged) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend such Extension Period, provided that such Extension Period together with all such previous and further extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Securities of this series. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period except at the end thereof. The Company shall give the Holders of the Securities of this series and the Trustee notice of its election to begin any such Exten- 6 9 sion Period at least one Business Day prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on the Securities would be payable but for such deferral or, so long as the Securities are held by the Trust prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which the Distributions on the Preferred Securities are payable or (ii) the date the Regular Trustees are required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of such Preferred Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are payable, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record date. Section 2.6 Place of Payment. The Place of Payment where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where the Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demand to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and the Indenture may be served shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. Section 2.7 Redemption. On or after November 25, 2001, the Company may at any time, at its option, subject to the terms and conditions of Article Eleven of the Indenture, redeem this Security in whole at any time or in part from time to time, without premium or penalty, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption. If a Special Event in respect of Allstate Financing I shall occur and be continuing, the Company may, at its option, redeem this Security at any time within 90 days of the occurrence of such Special Event, in whole but not in part, subject to the provisions of Section 1108 and the other provisions of Article Eleven of the Indenture. The redemption price for any Security so redeemed shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption. Section 2.8 Exchange. At any time, the Company may terminate Allstate Financing I and cause the Securities to be distributed to holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of Allstate Financing I. 7 10 Section 2.9 Denomination. The Securities of this series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and in denominations of $25 and integral multiples thereof. Section 2.10 Currency. Principal and interest on the Securities shall be payable in such coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Section 2.11 Form of Securities. The Securities shall be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto. Section 2.12 Securities Registrar and Paying Agent. The Trustee shall serve initially as Securities Registrar and Paying Agent. Section 2.13 Sinking Fund Obligations. The Company has no obligation to redeem or purchase any Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous requirement or upon the happening of a specified event or at the option of a Holder thereof. ARTICLE III Expenses Section 3.1 Payment of Expenses. In connection with the offering, sale and issuance of the Securities and in connection with the sale of the Trust Securities by the Trust, the Company, in its capacity as borrower with respect to the Securities, shall: (a) pay all costs and expenses relating to the offering, sale and issuance of the Securities, including commissions to the underwriters payable pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and the Pricing Agreement and compensation and expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture in accordance with the provisions of Section 607 of the Indenture; (b) pay all costs and expenses of the Trust (including, but not limited to, costs and expenses relating to the organization of the Trust, the offering, sale and issuance of the Trust Securities (including 8 11 commissions to the underwriters in connection therewith), the fees and expenses of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the costs and expenses relating to the operation of the Trust, including without limitation, costs and expenses of accountants, attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping services, expenses for printing and engraving and computing or accounting equipment, paying agent(s), registrar(s), transfer agent(s), duplicating, travel and telephone and other telecommunications expenses and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition, financing, and disposition of Trust assets); (c) be primarily and fully liable for any indemnification obligations arising with respect to the Declaration; and (d) pay any and all taxes (other than United States withholding taxes attributable to the Trust or its assets) and all liabilities, costs and expenses with respect to such taxes of the Trust. Section 3.2 Payment Upon Resignation or Removal. Upon termination of this First Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture or the removal or resignation of the Trustee, unless otherwise stated, the Company shall pay to the Trustee all amounts accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation. Upon termination of the Declaration or the removal or resignation of the Delaware Trustee or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 5.7 of the Declaration, the Company shall pay to the Delaware Trustee or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, all amounts accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation. ARTICLE IV Covenant to List on Exchange Section 4.1 Listing on an Exchange. If the Securities are to be issued as a Global Security in connection with the distribution of the Securities to the holders of the Preferred Securities issued by the Trust, the Company will use its best efforts to list such Securities on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or on such other exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed. 9 12 ARTICLE V Miscellaneous Provisions Section 5.1 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals. The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture. Section 5.2 The Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects hereby adopted, ratified and confirmed. Section 5.3 This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Section 5.4 THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF. 10 13 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, on the date or dates indicated in the acknowledgements and as of the day and year first above written. THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION By/s/ James P. Zils ------------------------- Name: James P. Zils Title: Vice President and Treasurer Attest: By:/s/ Robert W. Pike ------------------------------ Name: Robert W. Pike Title: Secretary STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By/s/ Henry W. Seemore ------------------------- Name: Henry W. Seemore Title: Assistant Vice President 14 (FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY) [IF THE SECURITY IS TO BE A GLOBAL SECURITY, INSERT - This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary. This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and no transfer of this Security (other than a transfer of this Security as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary) may be registered except in limited circumstances. Unless this Security is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Security issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.] Certificate No. $________ CUSIP No. THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION 7.95% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES, Series A THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to __________ or registered assigns, the principal sum of __________($__________) on December 31, 2026; provided that the Company may (i) shorten the maturity date at any time at the election of the Company, which shortened maturity date shall in no event be earlier than November A-1 15 25, 2001 and (ii) extend the maturity date at any time at the election of the Company subject to certain conditions specified in Section 314 of the Indenture, which extended maturity date shall in no event be later than December 31, 2045. The Company further promises to pay interest on said principal sum from November 25, 1996, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year commencing December 31, 1996, at the rate of 7.95% per annum, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the rate of 7.95% per annum, compounded quarterly. The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. A "Business Day" shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not (i) a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by law or executive order to close or (ii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or the principal office of the Property Trustee under the Declaration hereinafter referred to for Allstate Financing I, is closed for business. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close A-2 16 of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment, which shall be the close of business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date. [IF PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE THE SECURITIES ARE NO LONGER REPRESENTED BY A GLOBAL SECURITY -- which shall be the close of business on the 15th business day next preceding such Interest Payment Date.] Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders of this series of Securities not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. The principal of and the interest on this Security shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the United States in such coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered Holder at such address as shall appear in the Security Register. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Holder of this Security is the Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Security will be made at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Property Trustee. The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be nec- A-3 17 essary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions. Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place. Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. A-4 18 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed. THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION By: Name: Title: Attest: By: Name: Title: CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. Dated: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By_________________________________________ Authorized Signatory A-5 19 (FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY) This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company, designated as its 7.95% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A (herein referred to as the "Securities"), issued under and pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of November 25, 1996 between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 25, 1996, between the Company and the Trustee (the Indenture as so supplemented, the "Indenture"), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture or in the Amended and Restated Declaration, dated as of November 25, 1996 (the "Declaration"), of Allstate Financing I, among The Allstate Corporation, as Depositor, and the Trustees named therein, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture or the Declaration, as the case may be. So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right at any time during the term of this Security from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on such Security for up to 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each deferral period (each an "Extension Period"), during which periods interest will compound quarterly and the Company shall have the right to make partial payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date, and at the end of which the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with Additional Interest thereon to the extent permitted by applicable law); provided that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, (a) declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, A-6 20 if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company (including other Securities of any series) that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to such Securities (other than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Company, (ii) redemptions or repurchases of any rights, or the declaration of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance of any security under any future rights plan of the Company, (iii) purchases or acquisitions of shares of common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any benefit plans for its or its Subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees or independent contractors, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock or (v) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock of the Company or the security being converted or exchanged) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend such Extension Period, provided that such Extension Period together with all such previous and further extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Maturity of this Security. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period except at the end thereof. The Company shall give the Holders of the Securities of this series and the Trustee notice of its election to begin any such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on the Securities would be payable but for such deferral or, so long as the Securities are held by the Trust prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which the Distributions on the Preferred Securities are payable or (ii) the date the Regular Trustees are required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of such Preferred Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are pay- A-7 21 able, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record date. On or after November 25, 2001, the Company may at any time, at its option, subject to the terms and conditions of Article Eleven of the Indenture, redeem this Security in whole at any time or in part from time to time, without premium or penalty, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption. If a Special Event in respect of Allstate Financing I shall occur and be continuing, the Company may, at its option, redeem this Security at any time within 90 days of the occurrence of such Special Event, in whole but not in part, subject to the provisions of Section 1108 and the other provisions of Article Eleven of the Indenture. The redemption price for any Security so redeemed shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption. In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction, discharge and defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the A-8 22 Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal and interest on the Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Securities Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company maintained under Section 1002 of the Indenture duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of this Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the A-9 23 owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary. [The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof.] [This Global Security is exchangeable for Securities in definitive form only under certain limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture. Securities of this series so issued are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof.] As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations [herein and] therein set forth, Securities of this series [so issued] are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. The Company and, by its acceptance of this Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, this Security agree that for United States federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that this Security constitute indebtedness. THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN THE INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF. A-10
1 Exhibit 4.4 ================================================================================ PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT Allstate Financing I Dated as of November 25, 1996 ================================================================================ 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page ---- ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation . . . . . . . 2 ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application . . . . . . 6 SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities . . . . . . . 6 SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Preferred Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . 7 SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice . . . . . . . . . . 7 SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Preferred Guar- antee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Preferred Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 SECTION 3.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Preferred Securities Guarantee . . . . . . 12 ARTICLE IV PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE SECTION 4.1 Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility . . 12 SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . 13 ARTICLE V GUARANTEE SECTION 5.1 Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 3 ii
Page ---- SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 SECTION 5.6 Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . 16 ARTICLE VI LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions . . . . . . . . . 16 SECTION 6.2 Ranking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ARTICLE VII TERMINATION SECTION 7.1 Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION SECTION 8.1 Exculpation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 SECTION 8.2 Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . 19 SECTION 9.2 Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 SECTION 9.3 Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 SECTION 9.4 Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 SECTION 9.5 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 4 PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT This PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee"), dated as of November 25, 1996, is executed and delivered by The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a trust company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as trustee (the "Preferred Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of Allstate Financing I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer"). WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration"), dated as of November 25, 1996, among the trustees of the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as Depositor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof 20,000,000 preferred securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of $500,000,000, designated the 7.95% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A, subject to an increase of up to 3,000,000 additional preferred securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of $75,000,000 in the event the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised (the "Preferred Securities"); WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Issuer and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer's Common Securities (as defined below), will be used to purchase the Debentures (as defined below) of the Guarantor which will be deposited with State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the Declaration, as trust assets; WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and WHEREAS, the Guarantor is also executing and delivering a guarantee agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee") in substantially identical terms to this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Common Securities 5 (as defined herein), except that if an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture), has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under the Common Securities Guarantee are subordinated to the rights of Holders of Preferred Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under this Preferred Securities Guarantee. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities. ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation In this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) Capitalized terms used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1; (b) a term defined anywhere in this Preferred Securities Guarantee has the same meaning throughout; (c) all references to "the Preferred Securities Guarantee" or "this Preferred Securities Guarantee" are to this Preferred Securities Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; (d) all references in this Preferred Securities Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise specified; (e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Preferred Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and 2 6 (f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa. "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person; provided however, that an Affiliate of the Guarantor shall not be deemed to include the Issuer. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. "Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Guarantor or any committee of that board duly authorized to act hereunder. "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or any day on which banking institutions in the City of New York, New York or Boston, Massachusetts are authorized or required by any applicable law to close. "Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer. "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Agreement is located at Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. "Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Preferred Securities. "Debentures" means the series of subordinated debt securities of the Guarantor designated the 7.95% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A held by the Property Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer. "Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment or other obligations under this Preferred Securities Guarantee, provided, however, that, except with respect to a default in payment of any Guarantee Payments, the 3 7 Guarantor shall have received notice of default and shall not have cured such default within 60 days after receipt of such notice. "Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) that are required to be paid on such Preferred Securities to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price") to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Preferred Securities as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). If an event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive payments under the Common Securities Guarantee Agreement are subordinated to the rights of Holders of Preferred Securities to receive Guarantee Payments. "Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Preferred Guarantee Trustee. "Indemnified Person" means the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee. "Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of November 25, 1996, between the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and 4 8 State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which certain subordinated debt securities of the Debenture Issuer are to be issued to the Property Trustee of the Issuer. "Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities" means, except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by Holder(s) of Preferred Securities, voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all Preferred Securities. "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person and delivered to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definition relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature. "Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company, until a Succes- 5 9 sor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Preferred Securities Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, including any vice president, any assistant vice president, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Preferred Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1. "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application (a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Preferred Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. (b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control. SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities (a) The Guarantor shall provide the Preferred Guarantee Trustee with a list, in such form as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Preferred Securities ("List of Holders") as of 6 10 such date, (i) within 1 Business Day after January 1 and June 30 of each year, and (ii) at any other time within 30 days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request for a List of Holders, in each case as of a date no more than 14 days before such List of Holders is given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided, that the Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders. (b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred Securities such reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Preferred Guarantee Trustee The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Holders such documents, reports and information, if any, as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate. SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver 7 11 The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Preferred Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent therefrom. SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice (a) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, notices of all Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee Payment, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Board of Directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities. (b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice, or a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of the Preferred Securities Guarantee shall have obtained actual knowledge. SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. 8 12 ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Preferred Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Preferred Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. (b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities. (c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Preferred Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (d) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Preferred Guarantee Trustee 9 13 from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred: (A) the duties and obligations of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Preferred Guarantee Trustee; and (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Preferred Securities Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof or of the Trust Indenture Act are specifically required to be furnished to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements hereof or thereof; (ii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Preferred Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made; (iii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or exercising 10 14 any trust or power conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities Guarantee; and (iv) no provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall require the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Preferred Guarantee Trustee (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1: (i) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties. (ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate. (iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor. (iv) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any rerecording, refiling or registration thereof). 11 15 (v) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Preferred Securities Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction. (vi) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee. (vii) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit. (viii) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder. 12 16 (ix) Whenever in the administration of this Preferred Securities Guarantee the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such instructions. (x) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee. (b) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. SECTION 3.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Preferred Securities Guarantee The recitals contained in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Preferred Securities Guarantee. ARTICLE IV PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE SECTION 4.1 Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility (a) There shall at all times be a Preferred Guarantee Trustee which shall: 13 17 (i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and (ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. (b) If at any time the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c). (c) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred Guarantee Trustee (a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of Default. (b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor. (c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resig- 14 18 nation. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee. (d) If no Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. (e) No Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. (f) Upon termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee all amounts accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation. ARTICLE V GUARANTEE SECTION 5.1 Guarantee The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders. SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand 15 19 The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Preferred Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands. SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following: (a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer; (b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or any extension of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the Indenture); (c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind; (d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer; 16 20 (e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred Securities; (f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or (g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders (a) The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Preferred Securities Guarantee will be deposited with the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee on behalf of the Holders; and (iii) the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting of any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust power conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Pre- ferred Securities Guarantee. (b) Any Holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce such Holder's rights under this Preferred Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought first against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding directly against the Guarantor. SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment This Preferred Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Preferred Securities Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer) or upon distribution of 17 21 Debentures to Holders of the Preferred Securities as provided in the Declaration. SECTION 5.6 Subrogation The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders of Preferred Securities against the Issuer, if any, in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Preferred Securities Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Preferred Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Preferred Securities Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders. SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Preferred Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Preferred Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof. ARTICLE VI LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions So long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if there shall have occurred an Event of Default or an event of default under the Declaration, then the Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, (a) declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor's capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Guarantor (including other Securities (as defined in the Indenture) of any series) that rank pari passu with or junior in 18 22 interest to such Securities (other than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Guarantor, (ii) redemptions or repurchases of any rights, or the declaration of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance of any security under any future rights plan of the Guarantor, (iii) purchases or acquisitions of shares of common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Guarantor of its obligations under any benefit plans for its or its Subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees or independent contractors, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock for another class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock or (v) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock of the Guarantor or the security being converted or exchanged) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing. SECTION 6.2 Ranking This Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Guarantor, except those made pari passu with or subordinate to such obligations expressly by their terms. SECTION 6.3 Pari Passu Guarantees The obligations of the Guarantor under this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall rank pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor under any similar Preferred Securities Guarantee issued by the Guarantor on behalf of the holders of preferred securities issued by any Allstate Trust (as defined in the Indenture). ARTICLE VII TERMINATION SECTION 7.1 Termination This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall terminate upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (ii) the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration upon liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the 19 23 foregoing, this Preferred Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Preferred Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities or under this Preferred Securities Guarantee. ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION SECTION 8.1 Exculpation (a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Preferred Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Preferred Securities Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions. (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Preferred Securities might properly be paid. SECTION 8.2 Indemnification The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the 20 24 exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee. ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns All guarantees and agreements contained in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article Eight of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder. SECTION 9.2 Amendments Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights of Holders in any material respect (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Preferred Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all the outstanding Preferred Securities. The provisions of Section 12.2 of the Declaration with respect to meetings of Holders of the Securities apply to the giving of such approval. SECTION 9.3 Notices All notices provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows: (a) If given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, at the Preferred Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Preferred Securities): 21 25 State Street Bank and Trust Company Two International Place Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Telecopy: (617) 664-5365 (b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the Preferred Securities): The Allstate Corporation 2775 Sanders Road Northbrook, Illinois 60062 Attention: Secretary Telecopy: (847) 402-0158 (c) If given to any Holder of Preferred Securities, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer. All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. SECTION 9.4 Benefit This Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities. SECTION 9.5 Governing Law THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF. 22 26 THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written. THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION, as Guarantor By:/s/ James P. Zils ----------------------------- Name: James P. Zils Title: Vice President and Treasurer STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Preferred Guarantee Trustee By:/s/ Henry W. Seemore ----------------------------- Name: Henry W. Seemore Title: Assistant Vice President
1 Exhibit 8.1 November 25, 1996 To: The Allstate Corporation 2775 Sanders Road Northbrook, IL 60062-6127 Allstate Financing I c/o The Allstate Corporation 2775 Sanders Road Northbrook, IL 60062-6127 Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as special counsel for The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Allstate Financing I, a statutory business trust organized under the Business Trust Act of the State of Delaware (Chapter 38, Title 12, of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Sections 3801, et seq.) (the "Series A Issuer"), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), of a registration statement on Form S-3 dated as of August 27, 1996 (the "Registration Statement") (including the amendment to the Registration Statement, dated September 30, 1996, and the prospectus dated October 1, 1996, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated November 20, 1996 contained in the Registration Statement (as so supplemented, the "Final Prospectus")) relating to the public offering of up to 23,000,000 of the Series A Issuer's 7.95% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities (liquidation preference $25 per preferred security) (the "Series A QUIPS"), representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Series A Issuer. 2 November 25, 1996 Page 2 The Series A QUIPS are guaranteed (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee") by the Company with respect to the payment of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise pursuant to, and to the extent set forth in, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, dated as of November 25, 1996 ("Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement"), between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts banking corporation, as guarantee trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Series A QUIPS. In connection with the issuance of the Series A QUIPS, the Series A Issuer is also issuing its common securities (liquidation amount of $25 per common security) (the "Common Securities"), representing common undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Series A Issuer. The Series A QUIPS are being issued pursuant to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Series A Issuer, dated as of November 25, 1996 (the "Declaration"), among the Company, as Depositor, State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee"), Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc., as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), and the Regular Trustees named therein. The entire proceeds from the sale of the Series A QUIPS and the Series A Common Securities are to be used by the Series A Issuer to purchase 7.95% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due on December 31, 2026 (which date may be (i) shortened to a date not earlier than November 25, 2001 or (ii) extended to a date not later than December 31, 2045 if certain conditions are met) (the "Series A QUIDS") to be issued by the Company. The Series A QUIDS are to be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of November 25, 1996 (the "Subordinated Indenture"), between the Company and the State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"), and a supplement to the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of November 25, 1996 (the "Supplemental Indenture" and, together with the Subordinated Indenture or supplements thereto, the "Indenture"), between the Company and the Debenture Trustee. In connection with the issuance pursuant to the Registration Statement, you have requested that we render 3 November 25, 1996 Page 3 the opinion set forth below. In connection with rendering our opinion, we have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 1996; (iii) the certificate of trust (the "Certificate of Trust") filed by the Series A Issuer with the Secretary of the State of Delaware on August 21, 1996; (iv) the Declaration (including the designation of the terms of the Series A QUIPS and the Series A Common Securities annexed thereto); (v) the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement; (vi) the Indenture; (vii) the form of Series A QUIDS and a specimen certificate thereof; (viii) a copy of the Underwriting Agreement, dated November 20, 1996 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), and the Pricing Agreement, dated November 20, 1996 (the "Pricing Agreement"), each among Goldman, Sachs & Co., Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, PaineWebber Incorporated, Prudential Securities Incorporated and Smith Barney Inc., as representatives of the several Underwriters (the "Representatives"); (ix) the form of the Series A QUIPS; and (x) such other records and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth below. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all records and documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original records and documents of all records and documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts material to this opinion that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company. In rendering this opinion, we have assumed that the transactions were consummated in accordance with the descriptions thereof set forth in such records and documents and that such records and documents accurately reflect the material facts of the transactions. Our opinion is limited to legal rather than factual matters. 4 November 25, 1996 Page 4 In rendering our opinion, we have relied upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury Regulations, legislative history, judicial authorities, published positions of the Internal Revenue Service and such other authorities as we have considered relevant, all in effect as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretation (possibly on a retroactive basis). There can be no assurances, moreover, that the opinion expressed herein will be accepted by the Internal Revenue Service or, if challenged, by a court. On the basis of and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the discussion set forth in the Final Prospectus under the heading "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences," to the extent it constitutes matters of law or legal conclusions, is correct in all material respects. We express no opinion as to any United States federal tax consequences other than as set forth in this letter or as to any tax consequences under state, local or foreign law. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 8 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the headings "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences" and "Validity of Securities" in the Registration Statement. In giving each such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Very truly yours, /s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Illinois).