As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 20, 2022
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 65-0643773 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
2 University Plaza, Suite 100
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 696-9345
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Dror Bashan, President and Chief Executive Officer
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
2 University Plaza, Suite 100
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 696-9345
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Anna T. Pinedo
Brian D. Hirshberg
Mayer Brown LLP
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020-1001
(212) 506-2500
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time on or after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ¨
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer ¨ |
| Non-accelerated filer x | Smaller reporting company x |
| Emerging growth company ¨ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standard provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act ¨
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy these securities be accepted prior to the time the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission becomes effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 20, 2022
PROSPECTUS
| $100,000,000 |
 |
Common Stock Preferred Stock Debt Securities Warrants |
We may from time to time offer, in one or more series, separately or together, the following:
● our common stock;
● our preferred stock in one or more series;
● debt securities in one or more series; and
● warrants to purchase our common stock.
The aggregate public offering price of the securities that we may offer through this prospectus will be up to $100,000,000.
We will provide the specific terms of the securities offered by us in supplements to this prospectus, which we will deliver together with the prospectus at the time of sale. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. Please read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in any of our securities.
We may, from time to time, offer and sell these securities directly or through one or more underwriters, agents or dealers, through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters, or directly to purchasers, on or off the NYSE American at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices, on a continuous or delayed basis.
Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “PLX” and on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the symbol “PLX.” On April 19, 2022, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $1.33 per share on the NYSE American and NIS 4.27 per share on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
Investing in our securities involves risks. Risks associated with an investment in our securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and certain of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as described under the caption “Risk Factors” on page 4.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Israeli Securities Authority or any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2022
Table of Contents
No dealer, salesman or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations in connection with the offer made by this prospectus or any prospectus supplement other than those contained in, or incorporated by reference in, this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us or any underwriter, agent or dealer. We or an authorized underwriter, agent or dealer may also furnish you with a free writing prospectus relating to the applicable securities. This prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. The delivery of this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus at any time does not imply that the information contained herein or therein is correct as of any time subsequent to their respective dates.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements set forth and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, which are not historical, constitute “forward- looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, including statements regarding the expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies for the future. When used in this prospectus, or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and words or phrases of similar import, as they relate to our company or our subsidiaries or our management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and reflect our views as of the date they are made with respect to future events and financial performance, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise, nor do we have a policy of updating or revising, any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable law. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Examples of the risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:
| ● | risks related to the timing and progress of the preparation of an updated Biologics License Application, or BLA, for PRX-102 addressing the Complete Response Letter, or CRL; |
| ● | risks related to the timing, progress and likelihood of final approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, and the European Medicines Agency, or the EMA, of a resubmitted Biologics License Application, or BLA, and of a Marketing Authorization Application, or an MAA, respectively, for PRX-102, and, if approved, whether the use of PRX-102 will be commercially successful; |
| ● | failure or delay in the commencement or completion of our preclinical studies and clinical trials, which may be caused by several factors, including: slower than expected rates of patient recruitment; unforeseen safety issues; determination of dosing issues; lack of effectiveness during clinical trials; inability or unwillingness of medical investigators and institutional review boards to follow our clinical protocols; inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment; and or lack of sufficient funding to finance our clinical trials; |
| ● | the risk that the FDA, the EMA, or other foreign regulatory authorities may not accept or approve a marketing application we file for any of our product candidates, and other risks relating to the review process; |
| ● | risks associated with the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, outbreak and variants, which may adversely impact our business; |
| ● | risks related to any transactions we may effect in the public or private equity markets to raise capital to finance future research and development activities, general and administrative expenses and working capital; |
| ● | risks relating to our evaluation and pursuit of strategic alternatives; |
| ● | the risk that the results of our clinical trials will not support the applicable claims of safety or efficacy and that our product candidates will not have the desired effects or will be associated with undesirable side effects or other unexpected characteristics; |
| ● | risks relating to our ability to manage our relationship with our collaborators, distributors or partners, including, but not limited to, Pfizer Inc., or Pfizer, and Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., or Chiesi; |
| ● | risks relating to changes to interim, topline or preliminary data from clinical trials that we announce or publish; |
| ● | risk of significant lawsuits, including stockholder litigation, which is common in the life sciences sector; |
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| ● | our dependence on performance by third-party providers of services and supplies, including without limitation, clinical trial services; |
| ● | the impact of development of competing therapies and/or technologies by other companies; |
| ● | risks related to our supply of drug product to Pfizer; |
| ● | risks related to our expectations with respect to the potential commercial value of our product and product candidates; |
| ● | risks relating to the compliance by Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, or Fiocruz, an arm of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, or the Brazilian MoH, with its purchase obligations under our supply and technology transfer agreement, which may have a material adverse effect on us and may also result in the termination of such agreement; |
| ● | potential product liability risks, and risks of securing adequate levels of related insurance coverage; |
| ● | the possibility of infringing a third-party’s patents or other intellectual property rights and the uncertainty of obtaining patents covering our products and processes and successfully enforcing our intellectual property rights against third-parties; |
| ● | risks relating to changes in healthcare laws, rules and regulations in the United States, the European Union or elsewhere; and |
| ● | the possible disruption of our operations due to terrorist activities and armed conflict, including as a result of the disruption of the operations of certain regulatory authorities and of certain of our suppliers, collaborative partners, licensees, clinical trial sites, distributors and customers. |
Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in advanced or late-stage clinical trials, even after obtaining promising earlier trial results or preliminary findings for such clinical trials. Even if favorable testing data is generated from clinical trials of a drug product, the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities may not accept or approve a marketing application filed by a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company for the drug product.
These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and are described from time to time in the reports we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Commission using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell shares of common stock and preferred stock, debt securities and/or warrants in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $100,000,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer under this prospectus. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” certain information that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the Commission will update automatically, supplement and/or supersede this information. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. You should read the detailed information regarding our company, our securities and our financial statements and the notes to those statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated herein by reference.
You should read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with additional information from the sources described under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, the prospectus supplements, any free writing prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date subsequent to their respective dates.
You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any free writing prospectus and any prospectus supplement, if applicable. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information.
References in this prospectus to “our company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins primarily based on our proprietary ProCellEx® protein expression system. We developed our first commercial drug product, Elelyso®, using our ProCellEx system and we are now focused on utilizing the system to develop a pipeline of proprietary, clinically superior versions of complex recombinant therapeutic proteins that primarily target large, established pharmaceutical markets and that in most cases rely upon known biological mechanisms of action. With our experience to date, we believe ProCellEx will enable us to develop additional proprietary recombinant proteins that are therapeutically superior to existing recombinant proteins currently marketed for the same indications, including applying the unique properties of our ProCellEx system for the oral delivery of therapeutic proteins.
Pegunigalsidase alfa (PRX-102), our proprietary plant cell culture expressed enzyme in development for the treatment of Fabry disease, is our most advanced product candidate. Our PRX-102 phase III clinical program of PRX-102 for the treatment of Fabry disease includes three separate studies: the BALANCE, BRIDGE and BRIGHT studies. The BRIDGE and BRIGHT studies have been completed, and the last patient in the BALANCE study received the final dose in the study in October 2021. The studies were designed to evaluate the potential superiority of PRX-102 over current therapies, demonstrate the potential for improved efficacy and better quality of life for patients with Fabry disease and demonstrate the safety of our drug/therapy. We are also evaluating the potential of a once-monthly treatment regimen with a higher dose of PRX-102. In addition, the phase III clinical program includes two extension studies in which subjects that participated in our phase I/II clinical trials and our phase III clinical trials may enroll and continue to be treated with PRX-102.
On April 4, 2022, we, together with our development and commercialization partner for PRX-102, Chiesi, announced positive topline results from our BALANCE study, a pivotal phase III clinical trial evaluating PRX-102, 1 mg/kg, administered every two weeks, compared to agalsidase beta (Fabrazyme®) for the treatment of Fabry disease.
On February 7, 2022, an MAA for PRX-102 was submitted to, and subsequently validated by, the EMA. The submission was made after the October 8, 2021 meeting we held, together with Chiesi, with the Rapporteur and Co-Rapporteur of the EMA regarding PRX-102. At the meeting, Chiesi and the Company discussed the scope of the then anticipated MAA submission for the European Union, and the Rapporteur and Co-Rapporteur were generally supportive of the planned MAA submission for PRX-102.
On April 28, 2021, we, together with Chiesi, announced the receipt of a CRL from the FDA regarding the PRX-102 BLA. The CRL did not report any concerns relating to the potential safety or efficacy of PRX-102 in the submitted data package. In the CRL, the FDA noted that an inspection of our manufacturing facility in Carmiel, Israel, including the FDA’s subsequent assessment of any related FDA findings, is required before the FDA can approve a resubmitted BLA. Due to travel restrictions, the FDA was unable to conduct the required inspection during the review cycle. The FDA explained in the letter that it will continue to monitor the public health situation as well as travel restrictions, and is actively working to define an approach for scheduling outstanding inspections. With respect to the third-party facility in Europe at which fill and finish processes are performed for PRX-102, due to COVID-19, the FDA reviewed records under Section 704(a)(4) of the FFDCA in lieu of a pre-licensing inspection. In the CRL, the FDA stated that it will communicate remaining issues to the facility in order to seek prompt resolution of any pending items. In addition to the foregoing, in the CRL, the FDA noted that agalsidase beta, a therapy used to treat Fabry patients, was recently converted to full approval and is now an “available therapy,” which must be addressed in the context of any potential resubmission of a BLA for PRX-102.
We and Chiesi participated in a Type A (End of Review) meeting with the FDA on September 9, 2021. As part of the meeting minutes provided by the FDA, which included the preliminary comments and meeting discussion, the FDA, in principle, agreed that the data package proposed to the FDA for a BLA resubmission has the potential to support a traditional approval of PRX-102 for the treatment of Fabry disease. The planned data package for the BLA resubmission, given the changed regulatory landscape in the United States, will include the final two-year analyses of the BALANCE study. We intend to continue to work collaboratively with the FDA to resolve the issues noted in the CRL and provide a new, alternative drug to Fabry patients.
We have entered into two exclusive global licensing and supply agreements (ex-U.S. and U.S.) with Chiesi for PRX-102; on October 19, 2017, Protalix Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into an Exclusive License and Supply Agreement with Chiesi, or the Chiesi Ex-US Agreement, pursuant to which Chiesi was granted an exclusive license for all markets outside of the United States to commercialize PRX-102 and on July 23, 2018, Protalix Ltd. entered into an Exclusive License and Supply Agreement with Chiesi, or the Chiesi US Agreement, with respect to the commercialization of PRX-102 in the United States.
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In addition to PRX-102, our product pipeline currently includes, among other candidates:
1) alidornase alfa, or PRX-110, a proprietary plant cell recombinant human DNase, which has successfully completed a phase II efficacy and safety study; we are continuing to evaluate potential strategic marketing partnerships and collaboration programs with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for this product candidate for various respiratory indications;
2) PRX-115, our plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated uricase (urate oxidase) – a chemically modified enzyme to treat refractory gout; and
3) PRX-119, our plant cell-expressed PEGylated recombinant human DNase I product candidate being designed to elongate half-life in the circulation for NETs-related diseases.
We have licensed the rights to commercialize taliglucerase alfa worldwide (other than Brazil) to Pfizer, and the rights to commercialize pegunigalsidase alfa worldwide to Chiesi. Otherwise, we hold the worldwide commercialization rights to our other proprietary development candidates. In addition, we continuously evaluate potential strategic marketing partnerships as well as collaboration programs with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and academic research institutes.
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the specific risks sets forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and under the captions “Risk Factors” in any of our filings with the Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 before making an investment decision. For additional information, please see the sources described under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information.”
We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds of the securities we offer hereby. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the net proceeds from the securities we sell will be added to our general corporate funds and may be used for research and development expenses, clinical trials, establishing an internal sales force for selected territories, acquisitions of new technologies or businesses, and general corporate and administrative purposes. Until the net proceeds have been used, they will be invested primarily in short-term bank deposits or marketable securities. If we elect at the time of the issuance of the securities to make different or more specific uses of proceeds other than as described in this prospectus, the change in use of proceeds will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will set forth in a prospectus supplement the following information regarding any material dilution of the equity interests of investors purchasing securities in an offering under this prospectus:
| ● | the net tangible book value per share of our equity securities before and after the offering; |
| ● | the amount of the increase in such net tangible book value per share attributable to the cash payments made by purchasers in the offering; and |
| ● | the amount of the immediate dilution from the public offering price that will be absorbed by such purchasers. |
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Types of Securities
The securities we may offer from time to time by this prospectus are:
| ● | common stock; |
| ● | preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series; |
| ● | debt securities, which we may issue in one or more series; and |
| ● | warrants entitling the holders to purchase common stock. |
We will describe in a prospectus supplement, which we will deliver with this prospectus at the time of sale, the terms of the particular securities that we may offer in the future.
The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold will not exceed $100,000,000. When we sell securities, we will determine the amounts of securities we will sell and the prices and other terms on which we will sell them. We may sell securities to or through underwriters, through agents or dealers or directly to purchasers.
Additional Information
We will describe in a prospectus supplement, which we will deliver with this prospectus, the terms of particular securities that we may offer in the future. In each prospectus supplement we will include the following information:
| ● | the type and amount of securities that we propose to sell; |
| ● | the initial public offering price of the securities; |
| ● | the names of the underwriters, agents or dealers, if any, through or to which we will sell the securities; |
| ● | the compensation, if any, of those underwriters, agents or dealers; |
| ● | if applicable, information about any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the securities will be listed or traded; |
| ● | material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the securities; |
| ● | any material risk factors associated with the securities; |
| ● | maturity, if any; |
| ● | original issue discount, if any; |
| ● | rates and times of payment of interest, dividends or other payments, if any; |
| ● | redemption, conversion, exercise, exchange, settlement or sinking fund terms, if any; |
| ● | ranking, if applicable; |
| ● | voting or other rights, if any; |
| ● | conversion, exchange or settlement prices or rates, if any, and, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion, exchange or settlement prices or rates and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion, exchange or settlement; and |
| ● | any other material information about the offer and sale of the securities. |
In addition, the prospectus supplement may add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus.
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DESCRIPTION OF EQUITY SECURITIES
We are a Delaware corporation. The rights of our stockholders are governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law, our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws. The following summary of the material terms, rights and preferences of our capital stock is not complete. You should read our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws, which we refer to as our charter, for more complete information before you purchase any of our securities. You should read these documents, copies of which are available from us upon request at the address set forth under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information,” in order to more fully understand the terms of our common stock.
Common Stock
General. Our charter provides that we may issue up to 120,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, all of which preferred stock are undesignated. As of April 15, 2022, 46,365,832 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding.
Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, after payment of all of our debts and liabilities, the holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all remaining assets available for distribution after the payment of debts and liabilities and after provision has been made for each class of stock, if any, having preferences over our common stock. Holders of our common stock, as such, have no preemptive or other rights and there are no redemption provisions applicable to our common stock. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future. In accordance with the rules of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd., or the TASE, and as long as our securities are listed for trading on the TASE, we are allowed to issue securities with preferential rights relating to dividends, but such securities may not have voting rights.
Dividend Policy. We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the growth and development of our business and therefore do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, covenants in our debt instruments (if any), and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant.
Transfer Agent and Registrar. The transfer agent and registrar of our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Preferred Stock
Our restated articles of incorporation, as amended, authorizes the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such voting rights, rights of redemption and other relative rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our board of directors. Accordingly, our board of directors is empowered, without shareholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. The preferred stock could be utilized, under certain circumstances, as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of our company. We currently have no plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Terms. You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of any preferred stock for specific terms of the shares, including the following terms:
| ● | title and stated or liquidation value; |
| ● | number of shares offered and initial offering price; |
| ● | voting rights and other protective provisions; |
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| ● | any dividend rate(s), payment period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation of any of those terms that apply to those shares; |
| ● | date from which dividends will accumulate, if applicable; |
| ● | terms and amount of a sinking fund, if any, for purchase or redemption; |
| ● | redemption rights, including conditions and the redemption price(s), if applicable; |
| ● | listing on any national securities exchange; |
| ● | terms and conditions upon which shares will be convertible into common stock or any other securities, including the conversion price, rate or other manner of calculation and anti-dilution provisions, if applicable; |
| ● | the relative ranking and preference as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or the winding-up of our affairs, including liquidation preference amount; |
| ● | any limitation on issuance of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with that series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or the winding-up of our affairs; |
| ● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions; and |
| ● | a discussion of applicable material U.S. federal income tax consequences. |
The terms of any preferred stock we issue under this prospectus will be set forth in a certificate of designation. We will file a form of the certificate of designation as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus, or as an exhibit to a filing with the Commission that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The description of preferred stock in any prospectus supplement will not necessarily describe all of the terms of the preferred stock in detail. You should read the applicable certificate of designation for a complete description of all of the terms.
Ranking. Unless we provide otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the preferred stock offered through that supplement will, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, rank:
| ● | senior to all classes or series of our common stock, and to all other equity securities ranking junior to the offered shares of preferred stock; |
| ● | on a parity with all of our equity securities ranking on a parity with the offered shares of preferred stock; and |
| ● | junior to all of our equity securities ranking senior to the offered shares of preferred stock. |
The term “equity securities” does not include convertible debt securities.
Dividends. Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding stock or series of stock, our preferred stockholders may be entitled to receive dividends, when and as authorized by our board of directors, out of legally available funds, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Redemption. If we provide for a redemption right in a prospectus supplement, the preferred stock offered through that prospectus supplement may be subject to mandatory redemption or redemption at our option, in whole or in part, in each case upon the terms, at the times and at the redemption prices set forth in that prospectus supplement.
Liquidation Preference. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, the holders of any series of our preferred stock may be entitled to receive, after distributions to holders of any series or class of our capital stock ranking senior, an amount equal to the stated or liquidation value of the shares of the series plus, if applicable, an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends. If the assets and funds to be distributed among the holders of our preferred stock will be insufficient to permit full payment to the holders, then the holders of our preferred stock may share ratably in any distribution of our assets in proportion to the amounts that they otherwise would receive on their shares of our preferred stock if the shares were paid in full.
Voting Rights. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of our preferred stock will not have any voting rights, except as may be required by applicable law.
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Conversion Rights. The terms and conditions, if any, upon which any series of preferred stock is convertible into common stock or other securities will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of those shares of preferred stock. These terms typically will include:
| ● | the number of shares of common stock or other securities into which the preferred stock is convertible; |
| ● | the conversion price (or manner of calculation); |
| ● | the conversion period; |
| ● | provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holders of the preferred stock or at our option; |
| ● | the events, if any, requiring an adjustment of the conversion price; and |
| ● | provisions affecting conversion in the event of the redemption of that series of preferred stock. |
Transfer Agent and Registrar. We will identify the transfer agent and registrar for any series of preferred stock offered by this prospectus in a prospectus supplement.
Warrants
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock. If we offer warrants, we will describe the terms of the warrants in a prospectus supplement. Warrants may be offered independently, together with other securities offered by any prospectus supplement, or through a dividend or other distribution to stockholders and may be attached to or separate from other securities. Warrants may be issued under a written warrant agreement to be entered into between us or the holder or beneficial owner, or we may issue warrants under a written warrant agreement with a warrant agent specified in a prospectus supplement. A warrant agent would act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of a particular series and would not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of those warrants.
The following are some of the warrant terms that could be described in a prospectus supplement:
| ● | the title of the warrants; | |
| ● | the aggregate number of warrants; |
| ● | the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued; |
| ● | the designation, number and terms of the shares of common stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants; |
| ● | the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the securities offered with the warrants, if any, will be separately transferable; |
| ● | the purchase price for each security purchasable on exercise of the warrants; |
| ● | the dates on which the right to purchase certain securities upon exercise of the warrants will begin and end; |
| ● | the minimum or maximum number of shares of common stock that may be purchased at any one time upon exercise of the warrants; |
| ● | any anti-dilution provisions or other adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants; |
| ● | the terms of any right that we may have to redeem the warrants; |
| ● | the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other transfer of our business on the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement, if any; |
| ● | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| ● | a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
| ● | other material terms, including terms relating to transferability, exchange, exercise or amendments of the warrants. |
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the warrants and the warrant agreements will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
Options
As of December 31, 2021, options to purchase 2,259,020 shares of our common stock at a weighted average exercise price equal to approximately $4.42 per share were outstanding.
Convertible Notes
On August 25, 2021, we completed exchanges, or the Exchanges, of our outstanding 7.50% Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2021, or the 2021 Notes, with institutional note holders of a substantial majority of the 2021 Notes. The Exchanges involved the exchange of an aggregate of $54.65 million principal amount of our outstanding 2021 Notes for an aggregate of $28.75 million principal amount of newly issued 7.50% Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2024, or the 2024 Notes, $25.90 million in cash, and approximately $1.1 million in cash representing accrued and unpaid interest through the closing date. The initial conversion rate for the 2024 Notes is 563.2216 shares of our common stock for each $1,000 principal amount of 2024 Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $1.7755 per share of our common stock), subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. This initial conversion price represents a premium of approximately 32.5% relative to the closing price of our common stock on the NYSE American on August 13, 2021.
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Delaware Anti-Takeover Law Governance and Certain Charter Provisions
We have elected not to be subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Subject to certain exceptions, Section 203 prevents a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for three years following the date that the person became an interested stockholder, unless either the interested stockholder attained such status with the approval of our board of directors, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and stockholders in a prescribed manner or the interested stockholder acquired at least 85% of our outstanding voting stock in the transaction in which it became an interested stockholder. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving us and the “interested stockholder” and the sale of more than 10% of our assets. In general, an “interested stockholder” is any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.
Our board of directors may, at any time, authorize the issuance of a series of preferred stock that would grant to holders the preferred right to our assets upon liquidation, the right to receive dividend payments before dividends are distributed to the holders of common stock and the right to the redemption of the shares, together with a premium, before the redemption of our common stock. The ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock without any further action on the part of our stockholders may impede a takeover of our company.
NYSE American and Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
Our common stock is listed on both the NYSE American and the TASE under the symbol “PLX.”
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any other unsubordinated debt that we may have and may be secured or unsecured. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner described in the instrument governing the debt, to all or some portion of our senior indebtedness. Any convertible debt securities that we may issue will be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, preferred stock or other securities of ours or of a third party. Conversion may be mandatory or at your option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.
The debt securities will be issued under one or more indentures, which are contracts between us and a national banking association or other eligible party, as trustee. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in a prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus).
We will issue the senior notes under the senior indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the senior indenture. We will issue the subordinated notes under the subordinated indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the subordinated indenture. We will file forms of these documents as exhibits to an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We use the term “indentures” to refer to both the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture.
The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We use the term “indenture trustee” to refer to either the senior trustee or the subordinated trustee, as applicable.
The following summaries of the material provisions of the senior notes, the subordinated notes and the indentures are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. You should read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of debt securities being offered, as well as the complete indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities. Forms of indentures will be filed as exhibits to an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the Commission. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.
The following are some of the terms relating to a series of debt securities that could be described in a prospectus supplement:
| ● | title; |
| ● | principal amount being offered, and, if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding; |
| ● | any limit on the amount that may be issued; |
| ● | whether we will issue the series of debt securities in global form and, if so, the terms and who the depositary will be; |
| ● | maturity date; |
| ● | principal amount due at maturity, and whether the debt securities will be issued with any original issue discount; |
| ● | whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts; |
| ● | annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate, the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; |
| ● | whether the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
| ● | terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt; |
| ● | place where payments will be payable; |
| ● | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; |
| ● | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
| ● | date, if any, after which, the conditions upon which, and the price at which we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions, and any other applicable terms of those redemption provisions; |
| ● | provisions for a sinking fund, purchase or other analogous fund, if any; |
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| ● | date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities; |
| ● | whether the indenture will restrict our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to: |
| o | incur additional indebtedness; |
| o | issue additional securities; |
| o | create liens; |
| o | pay dividends or make distributions in respect of our capital stock or the capital stock of our subsidiaries; |
| o | redeem capital stock; |
| o | place restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets; |
| o | make investments or other restricted payments; |
| o | sell or otherwise dispose of assets; |
| o | enter into sale-leaseback transactions; |
| o | engage in transactions with shareholders or affiliates; |
| o | issue or sell stock of our subsidiaries; or |
| o | effect a consolidation or merger; |
| ● | whether the indenture will require us to maintain any interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios; |
| ● | a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities; |
| ● | information describing any book-entry features; |
| ● | procedures for any auction or remarketing, if any; |
| ● | whether the debt securities are to be offered at a price such that they will be deemed to be offered at an “original issue discount” as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 1273 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; |
| ● | denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| ● | if other than dollars, the currency in which the series of debt securities will be denominated; and |
| ● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any events of default that are in addition to those described in this prospectus or any covenants provided with respect to the debt securities that are in addition to those described above, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities. |
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, preferred stock or other securities of ours, including the conversion or exchange rate, as applicable, or how it will be calculated, and the applicable conversion or exchange period. We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of our securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive upon conversion or exchange would, under the circumstances described in those provisions, be subject to adjustment, or pursuant to which those holders would, under those circumstances, receive other property upon conversion or exchange, for example in the event of our merger or consolidation with another entity.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
The indentures in the forms to be filed as exhibits to an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor of ours or acquiror of such assets would have to assume all of our obligations under the indentures and the debt securities, as appropriate. In addition, the terms of any securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus may limit our ability to merge or consolidate or otherwise sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets, which terms would be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and supplemental indenture.
If the debt securities are convertible for our other securities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property would have to make provisions for the conversion of the debt securities into securities that the holders of the debt securities would have received if they had converted the debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.
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Events of Default Under the Indenture
The following are events of default under the indentures to be filed as exhibits to an amendment to the registration statement with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
| ● | if we fail to pay interest when due and payable and our failure continues for 30 days and the time for payment has not been extended or deferred; |
| ● | if we fail to pay the principal or premium, if any, when due and payable and the time for payment has not been extended or deferred; |
| ● | if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indentures and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive notice from the indenture trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and |
| ● | if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur. |
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the indenture trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the indenture trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding would be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the indenture trustee or any holder.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
Subject to the terms of the indentures, if an event of default under an indenture occurs and continues, the indenture trustee would be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the indenture trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the indenture trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the indenture trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:
| ● | the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and |
| ● | subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the indenture trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding. |
A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indentures or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:
| ● | the holder has given written notice to the indenture trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series; |
| ● | the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the indenture trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee; and |
| ● | the indenture trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 60 days after the notice, request and offer. |
These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities.
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We will periodically file statements with the indenture trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indentures.
Supplemental Indenture
We and the indenture trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or supplemental indenture without the consent of any holders for one or more of the following purposes:
| ● | to evidence the succession of another corporation, and the assumption by the successor corporation of our covenants, agreements and obligations under the indenture and debt securities; |
| ● | to add to our covenants such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default; |
| ● | to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide that bearer securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on bearer securities, to permit bearer securities to be issued in exchange for registered securities, to permit bearer securities to be issued in exchange for bearer securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of securities in uncertificated form, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the securities or any related coupons, including provisions necessary or desirable to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder; |
| ● | to modify, eliminate or add to any of the provisions of the indenture to such extent as necessary to effect the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and to add to the indenture such other provisions as may be expressly permitted by the trust indenture act, excluding however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act; |
| ● | to modify, eliminate or add to any of the provisions of the indenture; |
| ● | to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in the indenture or in any supplemental indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with other provisions; |
| ● | to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the trustee; |
| ● | to make provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the indenture, so long such other provisions to do not materially affect the interest of any other holder of debt securities; |
| ● | to secure any series of security; and |
| ● | to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment of a successor trustee and to add or change any provisions of the indenture as necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trust by more than one trustee. |
In addition, we and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than 66-2/3% in aggregate principal of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or supplemental indenture for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner the rights of the holders of the securities of such series and any related coupons of the indenture, provided that no such supplemental indenture shall:
| ● | extend the fixed maturity of any securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof or premium, if any, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest, without the consent of the holder so affected; |
| ● | reduce the aforesaid percentage of securities, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of all holders of outstanding series of debt securities; or |
| ● | modify any of the above provisions. |
Discharge
Each indenture to be filed as an exhibit to an amendment to the registration statement will provide that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
| ● | register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series; |
| ● | replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series; |
| ● | maintain paying agencies; |
| ● | hold monies for payment in trust; |
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| ● | recover excess money held by the indenture trustee; |
| ● | compensate and indemnify the indenture trustee; and |
| ● | appoint any successor trustee. |
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the indenture trustee money or government obligations, or a combination thereof, sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures will provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus with respect to that series.
At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will make no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
| ● | issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities of any series being redeemed in part during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or |
| ● | register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part. |
Information Concerning the Indenture Trustee
The indenture trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the indenture trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the indenture trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by an indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
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We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that, unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we may make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we will designate an office or agency of the indenture trustee in the City of New York as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the indenture trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities
The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The indentures in the forms initially filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part do not limit the amount of indebtedness which we may incur, including senior indebtedness or subordinated indebtedness, and do not limit us from issuing any other debt, including secured debt or unsecured debt.
We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, at the market offerings, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents or directly to one or more purchasers.
We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
| ● | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| ● | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| ● | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
| ● | at negotiated prices. |
Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriter to purchase securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriter will be obligated to purchase all of the applicable securities if any are purchased. If a dealer is used in a sale, we may sell the securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.
We or our agents may solicit offers to purchase securities from time to time. Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
In connection with the sale of securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation (in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions) from us or from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profits on the resale of the securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any such underwriter or agent, and we will describe any compensation paid to them, in the related prospectus supplement.
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Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under agreements with us to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
If stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain specified institutions or other persons to purchase securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement under delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Institutions with whom these contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to our approval. These contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of these contracts. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities shall not be prohibited at the time of delivery under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.
The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of our securities. Any underwriter may make a market in these securities. However, no underwriter will be obligated to do so, and any underwriter may discontinue any market-making at any time, without prior notice.
If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, until the distribution of the securities is completed, Commission rules may limit the ability of any underwriters and selling group members to bid for and purchase the securities. As an exception to these rules, representatives of any underwriters are permitted to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the securities. These transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. If the underwriters create a short position in the applicable securities in connection with any offering (in other words, if they sell more securities than are set forth on the cover page of the applicable prospectus supplement) the representatives of the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing securities in the open market. The representatives of the underwriters may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of any overallotment option we may grant to the underwriters, as described in the prospectus supplement. The representatives of the underwriters may also impose a penalty bid on certain underwriters and selling group members. This means that if the representatives purchase securities in the open market to reduce the underwriters’ short position or to stabilize the price of the securities, they may reclaim the amount of the selling concession from the underwriters and selling group members who sold those shares as part of the offering.
In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of those purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of the securities to the extent that it discourages resales of the securities. The transactions described above may have the effect of causing the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the representatives of the underwriters may discontinue any of the transactions at any time. In addition, the representatives of any underwriters may determine not to engage in those transactions or that those transactions, once commenced, may be discontinued without notice.
Certain of the underwriters or agents and their associates may engage in transactions with and perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.
In no event will the commission or discount received by any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, member or independent broker-dealer participating in a distribution of securities exceed 8% of the aggregate principal amount of the offering of securities in which that FINRA member or independent broker-dealer participates.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Commission under the Securities Act. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of securities.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. Our Commission filings, including the registration statement and exhibits, are available to the public at the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can request copies of these documents by writing to the Commission and paying a fee for the copying cost. In addition, since we are also listed on the TASE, we submit copies of all our filings with the Commission to the Israeli Securities Authority and the TASE. Such copies can be retrieved electronically through the TASE’s internet messaging system (www.maya.tase.co.il) and through the MAGNA distribution site of the Israeli Securities Authority (www.magna.isa.gov.il).
We maintain an Internet site at www.protalix.com. Webcasts of presentations we make at certain conferences may also be available on our website from time to time. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus.
This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. We have omitted certain parts of the registration statement in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules, that may be found at the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement about the provisions or contents of any contract, agreement or any other document referred to are not necessarily complete. Please refer to the actual exhibit for a more complete description of the matters involved.
| 17 |
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the Commission, which means we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and certain information that we will later file with the Commission will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below as well as any future filings we make with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding, unless otherwise provided therein or herein, documents not deemed “filed” with the Commission and information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 on any Current Report on Form 8-K or certain exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K) after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, and any filings made after the date of this prospectus until we sell all of the securities under this prospectus. The following documents filed with the Commission are incorporated by reference in this prospectus:
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021; |
| ● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 24, 2022, March 31, 2022 and April 4, 2022 (other than Items 2.02 and 9.01); |
| ● | our preliminary Proxy Statement, filed on April 14, 2022, for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held on June 30, 2022; and |
Copies of these filings are available at no cost on our website, www.protalix.com. In addition, you may request a copy of these filings and any amendments thereto at no cost, by writing or telephoning us. Those copies will not include exhibits to those documents unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in the documents or unless you specifically request them. You may also request copies of any exhibits to the registration statement at no cost. Please direct your request to:
Eyal Rubin
Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
2 University Plaza, Suite 100
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 696-9345
You should rely only on the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any applicable free writing prospectus and the documents that are incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not offering these securities in any state where the offering is prohibited by law. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any applicable free writing prospectus or any incorporated document is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document.
| 18 |
The validity of the issuance of the shares of common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Mayer Brown LLP, New York, New York.
The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Kesselman & Kesselman, Certified Public Accountants (Isr.), a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
| 19 |
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth an estimate of the fees and expenses relating to the offering of the securities being registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, all of which shall be borne by the Registrant. All of such fees and expenses, except for the Commission registration fee, are estimated:
| SEC registration fee | $ | 9,270** | ||
| Transfer agent fees and expenses | * | |||
| Legal fees and expenses | * | |||
| Printing fees and expenses | * | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses | * | |||
| Miscellaneous fees and expenses | * | |||
| Total | * |
* These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the estimated amount of expenses of any offering of securities.
** Of this amount, $5,557.01 was previously paid.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
General Corporation Law
We indemnify our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law for the costs and liabilities of acting or failing to act in an official capacity. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors to provide them with the maximum indemnification allowed under our amended and restated bylaws and applicable Delaware law, including indemnification for all judgments and expenses incurred as the result of any lawsuit in which such person is named as a defendant by reason of being our director, officer or employee, to the extent indemnification is permitted by the laws of Delaware. We believe that the indemnification agreements will enhance our ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers.
The articles of association of Protalix Ltd., our wholly owned subsidiary incorporated in Israel, allow it to exculpate, indemnify, and insure its office holders to the fullest extent permitted by Israeli law, as described below. Accordingly, Protalix Ltd. has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its officers and directors undertaking to indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by Israeli law. As required by Israeli law, the indemnification is limited to events determined as foreseeable by the board of directors of Protalix Ltd. based on the activities of Protalix Ltd. upon adoption of the form of indemnification in 2016, and to an amount determined by the board of directors as reasonable under the circumstances.
We purchase and maintain a directors and officers liability insurance policy that covers the liability of our directors and officers on a “claims made” basis for their ongoing activity since December 28, 2006, with a limit of $20,000,000 for any one claim and in the aggregate for the period of insurance. The policy also covers reasonable legal defense costs in Israel in accordance with Israeli law in addition to said limit.
Furthermore, we purchase and maintain a Side A Excess and Difference In Conditions insurance that covers the non-indemnifiable liability of our directors and officers on a “claims made” basis for their ongoing activity since December 28, 2006, with a limit of $15,000,000 for any one claim and in the aggregate for the period of insurance. The policy also covers reasonable legal defense costs in Israel in accordance with Israeli law in addition to said limit.
As of the date of hereof, no claims for directors’ and officers’ liability insurance have been filed under those policies and neither we nor Protalix Ltd. is aware of any pending or threatened litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or officers, or those of Protalix Ltd., in which indemnification is sought.
II-1
We have undertaken to fulfill and honor in all respects the obligations of Protalix Ltd. pursuant to any indemnification agreements between Protalix Ltd. and its directors in effect prior to December 31, 2006 and to provide any substitute director and the officers of Protalix Ltd. with similar indemnification agreements. We further agreed that any provision of Protalix Ltd.’s charter documents that relate to exculpation and indemnification of officers and directors of Protalix Ltd. will not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified in any manner that would adversely affect the rights of the directors and officers, unless such modification is required by any applicable law.
Under Israeli law, an Israeli company may not exculpate an office holder from liability for a breach of the duty of loyalty of the office holder. An Israeli company may exculpate an office holder in advance from liability, in whole or in part, for damages caused due to a breach of duty of care owed to the company (other than in the event that such liability arises out of a breach of duty of care to the company upon distribution) but only if a provision authorizing such exculpation is inserted in its articles of association. Protalix Ltd.’s articles of association include such a provision.
An Israeli company may indemnify an office holder in respect of certain liabilities or expenses either in advance of an event or following an event provided a provision authorizing such indemnification is inserted in its articles of association. Protalix Ltd.’s articles of association contain such an authorization.
An Israeli company may indemnify an office holder against the following liabilities or expenses incurred for acts performed as an office holder:
| (A) | financial liability imposed on or incurred by him or her in favor of another person pursuant to a judgment, settlement or arbitrator’s award approved by a court; |
| (B) | reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the office holder as a result of an investigation or proceeding instituted against him or her by an authority authorized to conduct such investigation or proceeding, provided that (i) no indictment was filed against such office holder as a result of such investigation or proceeding; and (ii) no financial liability, such as a criminal penalty, was imposed upon him or her as a substitute for the criminal proceeding as a result of such investigation or proceeding or, if such financial liability was imposed, it was imposed with respect to an offense that does not require proof of criminal intent or with regard to a monetary sanction; |
| (C) | reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the office holder or imposed by a court in proceedings instituted against him or her by the company, on its behalf or by a third party or in connection with criminal proceedings in which the office holder was acquitted or as a result of a conviction for a crime that does not require proof of criminal intent; and |
| (D) | a payment that the office holder is obligated to make to an injured party as set forth in Section 52(54)(a)(1)(a) of the Israeli Securities Law, 5278-1968, as amended, or the Israeli Securities Law, and reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, that the office holder incurred in connection with a proceeding under Chapters H’3, H’4 or I’1 of the Israeli Securities Law. |
An undertaking provided in advance by an Israeli company to indemnify an office holder with respect to (A), as abovementioned, must be limited to events that, in the opinion of the board of directors, can be foreseen based on the company’s activities when the undertaking to indemnify is given, and to an amount or according to criteria determined by the board of directors as reasonable under the circumstances, and such undertaking shall detail the abovementioned events and amount or criteria. We are permitted to provide an office holder advance payments to cover expenses covered under (D) above.
An Israeli company may insure an office holder against the following liabilities incurred for acts performed as an office holder:
| ● | a breach of duty of care to the company or to a third party; |
| ● | a breach of duty of loyalty to the company, to the extent that the office holder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not be detrimental to the interests of the company; |
| ● | a financial liability imposed on the office holder in favor of a third party in respect of an act performed in his or her capacity as an office holder; and |
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| ● | a payment that the office holder is obligated to make to an injured party as set forth in Section 52(54)(a)(1)(a) of the Israeli Securities Law and reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, that the office holder incurred in connection with a proceeding under Chapters H’3, H’4 or I’1 of the Israeli Securities Law. |
An Israeli company may not insure, indemnify or exculpate an office holder against any of the following:
| ● | a breach of duty of loyalty, except to the extent that the office holder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not be detrimental to the interests of the company; |
| ● | a grossly negligent or intentional violation of an office holder’s duty of care; |
| ● | an act or omission committed with intent to derive illegal personal benefit; or |
| ● | a fine, civil fine, monetary sanction or ransom levied against the office holder. |
Under the Israeli law, exculpation, indemnification and insurance of office holders of Protalix Ltd. must be approved by the board of directors of Protalix Ltd. and, in respect of directors of Protalix Ltd., also by the stockholders of Protalix Ltd. Such approvals were properly obtained.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors and officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. With respect to insurance and indemnification for liabilities and expenses arising under the Israeli Securities Law, such insurance and indemnification is permissible only to the extent described in this Item 6.
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Item 16. List of Exhibits.
| Number | Description | |
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement | |
| 4.1* | Form of Certificate of Designation for Preferred Stock | |
| 4.2* | Form Specimen of Certificate representing Preferred Stock | |
| 4.3 | Indenture for Senior Securities | |
| 4.4 | Indenture for Subordinated Securities | |
| 4.5* | Form of Warrant Agreement | |
| 4.6* | Form of Warrant | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Mayer Brown LLP as to the validity of the securities registered hereunder | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Kesselman & Kesselman, Certified Public Accountants (Israel), a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, an independent registered public accounting firm | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Mayer Brown LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto) | |
| 25.1* | Statement of eligibility of Trustee for Indenture for Senior Securities | |
| 25.2* | Statement of eligibility of Trustee for Indenture for Subordinated Securities | |
| 107 | Filing Fee Table |
* To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a current report of the Company on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
II-4
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) If the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is a part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was a part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
(ii) If the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the respective Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tel Aviv, State of Israel, on the 20th day of April, 2022.
| PROTALIX BIO THERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dror Bashan | |
| Dror Bashan | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints, jointly and severally, Dror Bashan and Eyal Rubin, and each one of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
| Signatures | Capacity | Date | ||
| /s/ Dror Bashan | President, Chief Executive | April 20, 2022 | ||
| Dror Bashan | Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director | |||
| /s/ Eyal Rubin | Sr. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and | April 20, 2022 | ||
| Eyal Rubin | Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
| /s/ Zeev Bronfeld | Chairman of the Board of Directors | April 20, 2022 | ||
| Zeev Bronfeld | ||||
| /s/ Amos Bar Shalev | Director | April 20, 2022 | ||
| Amos Bar Shalev | ||||
| /s/ Pol F. Boudes | Director | April 20, 2022 | ||
| Pol F. Boudes | ||||
| /s/ David Granot | Director | April 20, 2022 | ||
| David Granot | ||||
| /s/ Gwen A. Melincoff | Director | April 20, 2022 | ||
| Gwen A. Melincoff | ||||
| /s/ Aharon Schwartz | Director | April 20, 2022 | ||
| Aharon Schwartz, Ph.D. |
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Number | Description | |
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting | |
| 4.1* | Form of Certificate of Designation for Preferred Stock | |
| 4.2* | Form Specimen of Certificate representing Preferred Stock | |
| 4.3 | Indenture for Senior Securities | |
| 4.4 | Indenture for Subordinated Securities | |
| 4.5* | Form of Warrant Agreement | |
| 4.6* | Form of Warrant | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Mayer Brown LLP as to the validity of the securities registered hereunder | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Kesselman & Kesselman, Certified Public Accountants (Israel), a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, an independent registered public accounting firm | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Mayer Brown LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto) | |
| 25.1* | Statement of eligibility of Trustee for Indenture for Senior Securities | |
| 25.2* | Statement of eligibility of Trustee for Indenture for Subordinated Securities | |
| 107 | Filing Fee Table |
* To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a current report of the Company on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibit 4.3
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.,
Issuer
AND
____________________,
Trustee
____________________
INDENTURE
Dated as of _____ ___, 202_
____________________
Table of Contents*
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
|
Section of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended |
Section of | |
| 310(a) | 7.9 | |
| 310(b) | 7.8 | |
| 310(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 311(a) | 7.13 | |
| 311(b) | 7.13 | |
| 311(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 312(a) | 5.01, 5.02(a) | |
| 312(b) | 5.2(c) | |
| 312(c) | 5.2(c) | |
| 313(a) | 5.4(a) | |
| 313(b) | 5.4(b) | |
| 313(c) | 5.4(b) | |
| 313(d) | 5.4(c) | |
| 314(a) | 5.3(a) | |
| 314(b) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(c) | 13.7(a) | |
| 314(d) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(e) | 13.7(b) | |
| 314(f) | Inapplicable | |
| 315(a) | 7.1(b) | |
| 315(b) | 7.14 | |
| 315(c) | 7.1(a) | |
| 315(d) | 7.1(b) | |
| 315(e) | 6.7 | |
| 316(a) | 6.6, 8.4 | |
| 316(b) | 6.4 | |
| 316(c) | 8.1 | |
| 317(a) | 6.2 | |
| 317(b) | 4.3 | |
| 318(a) | 13.9 | |
| 318(c) | 13.9 |
| ARTICLE I | DEFINITIONS | 1 |
| Section 1.1 | Definitions of Terms | 1 |
*This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.
| -ii- |
Table of Contents
(continued)
| Page | ||
| ARTICLE II | ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES | 6 |
| Section 2.1 | Designation and Terms of Securities | 6 |
| Section 2.2 | Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate | 8 |
| Section 2.3 | Denominations; Provisions for Payment | 8 |
| Section 2.4 | Execution and Authentication | 10 |
| Section 2.5 | Registration of Transfer and Exchange | 11 |
| Section 2.6 | Temporary Securities | 12 |
| Section 2.7 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities | 12 |
| Section 2.8 | Cancellation | 13 |
| Section 2.9 | Benefits of Indenture | 13 |
| Section 2.10 | Authenticating Agent | 13 |
| Section 2.11 | Global Securities | 14 |
| Section 2.12 | No Obligation of the Trustee | 15 |
| ARTICLE III | REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS | 16 |
| Section 3.1 | Redemption | 16 |
| Section 3.2 | Notice of Redemption | 16 |
| Section 3.3 | Payment Upon Redemption | 17 |
| Section 3.4 | Sinking Fund | 18 |
| Section 3.5 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 18 |
| Section 3.6 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 18 |
| ARTICLE IV | CERTAIN COVENANTS | 19 |
| Section 4.1 | Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 19 |
| Section 4.2 | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 19 |
| -iii- |
Table of Contents
(continued)
| Page | ||
| Section 4.3 | Paying Agents | 19 |
| Section 4.4 | Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee | 20 |
| Section 4.5 | Compliance with Consolidation Provisions | 20 |
| Section 4.6 | Statement by Officers as to Default | 20 |
| ARTICLE V | SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE | 21 |
| Section 5.1 | Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders | 21 |
| Section 5.2 | Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders | 21 |
| Section 5.3 | Reports by the Company | 21 |
| Section 5.4 | Reports by the Trustee | 22 |
| ARTICLE VI | REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT | 23 |
| Section 6.1 | Events of Default | 23 |
| Section 6.2 | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 25 |
| Section 6.3 | Application of Moneys Collected | 26 |
| Section 6.4 | Limitation on Suits | 26 |
| Section 6.5 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 27 |
| Section 6.6 | Control by Securityholders | 28 |
| Section 6.7 | Undertaking to Pay Costs | 28 |
| ARTICLE VII | CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE | 29 |
| Section 7.1 | Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee | 29 |
| Section 7.2 | Certain Rights of Trustee | 30 |
| Section 7.3 | Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities | 31 |
| Section 7.4 | May Hold Securities | 31 |
| -iv- |
Table of Contents
(continued)
| Page | ||
| Section 7.5 | Moneys Held in Trust | 32 |
| Section 7.6 | Compensation and Reimbursement | 32 |
| Section 7.7 | Reliance on Officers’ Certificate | 32 |
| Section 7.8 | Disqualification; Conflicting Interests | 33 |
| Section 7.9 | Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility | 33 |
| Section 7.10 | Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor | 33 |
| Section 7.11 | Acceptance of Appointment By Successor | 34 |
| Section 7.12 | Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business | 36 |
| Section 7.13 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company | 36 |
| Section 7.14 | Notice of Defaults | 36 |
| ARTICLE VIII | CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS | 36 |
| Section 8.1 | Evidence of Action by Securityholders | 36 |
| Section 8.2 | Proof of Execution by Securityholders | 37 |
| Section 8.3 | Who May be Deemed Owners | 37 |
| Section 8.4 | Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded | 38 |
| Section 8.5 | Actions Binding on Future Securityholders | 38 |
| ARTICLE IX | SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 39 |
| Section 9.1 | Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders | 39 |
| Section 9.2 | Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders | 40 |
| Section 9.3 | Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 40 |
| Section 9.4 | Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures | 41 |
| Section 9.5 | Execution of Supplemental Indentures | 41 |
| Section 9.6 | Conformity with Trust Indenture Act | 41 |
| -v- |
Table of Contents
(continued)
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| ARTICLE X | SUCCESSOR CORPORATION | 41 |
| Section 10.1 | Company May Consolidate, Etc. | 41 |
| Section 10.2 | Successor Substituted | 42 |
| Section 10.3 | Evidence of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee | 42 |
| ARTICLE XI | SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | 43 |
| Section 11.1 | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 43 |
| Section 11.2 | Discharge of Obligations | 43 |
| Section 11.3 | Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust | 43 |
| Section 11.4 | Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents | 44 |
| Section 11.5 | Repayment to Company | 44 |
| ARTICLE XII | IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | 44 |
| Section 12.1 | No Recourse | 44 |
| ARTICLE XIII | MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 45 |
| Section 13.1 | Effect on Successors and Assigns | 45 |
| Section 13.2 | Actions by Successor | 45 |
| Section 13.3 | Notices | 45 |
| Section 13.4 | Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver | 45 |
| Section 13.5 | Governing Law | 46 |
| Section 13.6 | Effect of Headings and Table of Contents | 46 |
| Section 13.7 | Compliance Certificates and Opinions | 46 |
| Section 13.8 | Payments on Business Days | 46 |
| Section 13.9 | Conflict with Trust Indenture Act | 47 |
| Section 13.10 | Counterparts | 47 |
| Section 13.11 | Separability | 47 |
| -vi- |
Table of Contents
(continued)
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| Section 13.12 | Assignment | 47 |
*This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.
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INDENTURE, dated as of _______ ___, 202__, among Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and _______________, as trustee (the “Trustee”):
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of unsecured debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee;
WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions of Terms.
The terms defined in this Section 1.1 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.1 and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities or other ownership interests of the specified Person, (b) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities or other ownership interests are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held with power to vote by the specified Person, (c) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the specified Person, (d) a partnership in which the specified Person is a general partner, (e) any officer or director of the specified Person, and (f) if the specified Person is an individual, any entity of which the specified Person is an officer, director or general partner.
“Authenticating Agent” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed with respect to all or any series of the Securities by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such 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.
“Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a day on which Federal or State banking institutions in the City of New York or place of payment, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
“Certificate” means a certificate signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the Treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company. The Certificate need not comply with the provisions of Section 13.7.
“Company” means Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., a corporation, duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and, subject to the provisions of Article Ten, shall also include its successors and assigns.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at ____________________.
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 hereof.
Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.1 or 2.11.
“Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series any event specified in Section 6.1, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
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“Governmental Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations 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 that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, 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 Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such indebtedness or other obligation of such Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Guarantor” means any Person Guaranteeing any obligation.
“Guaranty Agreement” means a supplemental indenture, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, pursuant to which a Person Guarantees the Company’s obligations with respect to a series of Securities.
“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.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.
“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 installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.
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“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.7, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.7, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which (i) is issued at a price lower than the amount payable upon the maturity thereof and (ii) provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon redemption or a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.
“Outstanding”, when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.4, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Article Three, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.7.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint-venture, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“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 2.7 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
“Regular Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 hereof.
“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means any authorized officer within the Corporate Trust Department (or corresponding department bearing a different name) of the Trustee, including the president, any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Person who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
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“Securities” means the debt Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Security Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b) hereof.
“Security Registrar” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b) hereof.
“Securityholder”, “holder of Securities”, “registered holder”, or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
“Special Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 hereof.
“Subsidiary” means, in respect of any Person, any corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (a) such Person, (b) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (c) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
“Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Subsidiary of the Company that provides a Guarantee of the obligations of the Company with respect to any series of Securities or enters into a Guaranty Agreement that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Subsidiary Guarantee” means a Guarantee, including any Guaranty Agreement, provided by a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Company’s obligations with respect to any series of Securities.
“Trustee” means ________________, and, subject to the provisions of Article Seven, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument, subject to the provisions of Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 10.1.
“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity on a series of Securities, calculated at the time of issuance of such series, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.
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ARTICLE II
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Designation and Terms of Securities.
(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:
(1) the title of the Security of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that 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 that series);
(3) whether any of the Securities of the series will be issuable in whole or in part in temporary or permanent global form or in the form of book-entry securities and, in such case, the identity of the Depositary for such series;
(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;
(5) the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;
(6) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates or the manner of determination of such record dates;
(7) the place or places where payments with respect to the Securities of the series shall be payable;
(8) the right, if any, to defer or extend payment of interest on the debt securities and the maximum length of any deferral or extension period;
(9) the dates, if any, on which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
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(10) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in satisfaction of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder thereof and the date or dates, if any, on which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(11) if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(12) whether the series of Securities will be subject to any mandatory or optional sinking fund or similar provisions;
(13) the currency or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of the series shall be payable;
(14) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by non-U.S. persons in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such additional amounts;
(15) the terms pursuant to which the Securities of the series are subject to defeasance and satisfaction and discharge;
(16) any addition to, or modification or deletion of, any Events of Default or covenants provided for with respect to the Securities of the series;
(17) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of the series are secured;
(18) whether the Securities of the series will be convertible into shares of common stock or any other securities of the Company and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible, including whether conversion is mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at the option of the Company, the conversion price, the conversion period and any provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of common stock or other securities of the Company to be received by the holders of such series of Securities would be subject to adjustment;
(19) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1;
(20) any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs;
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(21) any special tax implications of the Securities of the series, including provisions for Original Issue Discount Securities, if offered;
(22) the form of the Securities of the series, including the form of the Certificate of Authentication for such series; and
(23) any and all other terms with respect to such series, including any terms which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that series.
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 any such Board Resolution or in any indentures 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 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.
Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates. Unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series.
Section 2.2 Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate.
The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution of the Company and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, 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 Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.
Section 2.3 Denominations; Provisions for Payment.
The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the minimum denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.1(a)(11). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the Interest Payment Dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.1, the principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the United States, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities, by the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.1, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.
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The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the applicable Business Day that is the Regular Record Date for such interest installment. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of a series of Securities, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be mailed by check to the holders of the Securities of any series at their respective addresses set forth in the Security Register (as herein defined) or wired if held in book-entry form at The Depository Trust Company. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and on or prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.3.
Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on the applicable Business Day that is 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 such Security 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. The Trustee shall then fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall be no longer payable pursuant to the following clause (2).
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(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities 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.
Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the term “Regular Record Date”, as used in this Section 2.3, with respect to a series of Securities with respect to any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either (i) the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or (ii) the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.
Section 2.4 Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.
A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee or an Authentication Agent manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
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 written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by two Officers, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities in accordance with such written order.
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 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate stating that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.
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 that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
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Section 2.5 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose in the United States, or such other location designated by the Company, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section 2.5. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose in the United States, or such other location designated by the Company a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as provided in this Article and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Unless otherwise specified in a supplemental indenture, the Trustee is hereby appointed as “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering the Securities and the transfer of Securities of each series.
Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.
All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section 2.5, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.
(c) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.6, Section 3.3(b) and Section 9.4 not involving any transfer.
(d) The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption except the unredeemed portion of any Securities of any series being redeemed in part. The provisions of this Section 2.5 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.
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Section 2.6 Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay, the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series, and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose, and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 2.7 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.
In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any Officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, 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. In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof, except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.
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Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.7 shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.8 Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company any canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request, the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.9 Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained, all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Securities.
Section 2.10 Authenticating Agent.
So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee, with the written consent of the Company, shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, 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. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.
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Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.
Section 2.11 Global Securities.
(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.1 that the Securities of a particular series are issuable as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.4, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect exchanges, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.” Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the written request signed in the name of the Company, by two Officers thereof to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.4 or Section 2.6.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.5, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part, and in the manner provided in Section 2.5, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
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(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.5, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and subject to Section 2.5, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
(d) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to a particular series of the Securities, the Company may execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate directing the authorization and delivery thereof, shall authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security.
Section 2.12 No Obligation of the Trustee.
(a) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in, the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holder or Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary, subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
(b) The Trustee shall have no obligations or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among the Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
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ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section 3.1 Redemption.
The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
Section 3.2 Notice of Redemption.
(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with the right reserved in such Securities so to do, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by sending electronically or by mailing, first class postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is sent in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure to duly give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. 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 any such restriction.
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price (or the manner of calculation thereof) at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company in the United States, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in whole or in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
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(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 30 days’ notice in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot on a pro rata basis or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion. The portion of the principal amount of Securities so selected for partial redemption shall be equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof. Upon making its selection, the Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable supplemental indenture, the Company shall not be required to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Securities of a series that are subject to redemption during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all of that series of Securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing.
The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by any Officer, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section 3.2, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name, as the Trustee or such paying agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under this Section 3.2.
Section 3.3 Payment Upon Redemption.
(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. Interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption. However, if the date fixed for redemption is subsequent to a Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and on or prior to such Interest Payment Date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable Regular Record Date pursuant to Section 2.3.
(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
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Section 3.4 Sinking Fund.
The provisions of Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series 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 Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.5. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
Section 3.5 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and (ii) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that 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 the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 3.6 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.5 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before 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 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.2. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.3.
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ARTICLE IV
CERTAIN COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities.
Section 4.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency in the United States with respect to each such series, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as hereinabove authorized for registration of transfer and exchange and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. 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, 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, notices and demands.
Section 4.3 Paying Agents.
(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.3:
(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;
(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;
(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and
(4) that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.
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(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it shall on or before each due date of the principal of and any premium or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, a sum sufficient to pay such principal and any premium or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. 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 and any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.3 to the contrary, (i) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.5 and (ii) 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 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 terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; 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.
Section 4.4 Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee.
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
Section 4.5 Compliance with Consolidation Provisions.
The Company will not, while any of the Securities remain Outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property to any other company unless the provisions of Article Ten hereof are complied with.
Section 4.6 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 signed by its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer thereof, the Company is in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture, and if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.
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ARTICLE V
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS
BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 5.1 Company to Furnish Names and Addresses of Securityholders to Trustee.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) semiannually on _____ ___ and _____ ___, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to be furnished such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series of Securities for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.
Section 5.2 Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.1 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).
(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the sending of any material pursuant to a request made pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 5.3 Reports by the Company.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee (unless such reports have been filed on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system), within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Securities and Exchange Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. If the Company is no longer required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections of the Exchange Act, the Company shall continue to provide the Trustee with reports containing substantially the same information as would have been required to be filed with the Securities Exchange Commission had the Company continued to have been subject to such reporting requirements. In such event, such reports shall be provided to the Trustee within 15 days after the dates applicable to a registrant that is not an accelerated filer or a large accelerated filer on which the Company would have been required to provide reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission had it continued to have been subject to such reporting requirements. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall also comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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(b) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees to transmit electronically or by mail, first class postage prepaid, or reputable over-night delivery service that provides for evidence of receipt, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 5.3 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 5.4 Reports by the Trustee.
(a) On or before _____ ___ in each year in which any of the Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding _____ ___, if and to the extent required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, detailing certain events that occurred within the previous 12 months.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any stock exchange.
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ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 6.1 Events of Default.
(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing:
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto, shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto, shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or any premium for this purpose;
(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given in writing 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 Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;
(4) if the Securities of the series are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities of the Company, failure by the Company to deliver common stock or the other securities when the holder or holders of such Securities elect to convert such Securities into shares of common stock or other securities of the Company;
(5) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and, in each such case, the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or
(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.
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(b) In each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in clauses (5) or (6) above), unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee, if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, on all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, notwithstanding anything contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of that series or established with respect to that series pursuant to Section 2.1 to the contrary. If an Event of Default specified in clauses (5) or (6) above occurs, all unpaid principal (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, on, all the Securities of that series then outstanding will become automatically due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holder.
(c) At any time after the principal of the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) expressed in the Securities of that series (or at the respective rates of interest or Yields to Maturity of all the Securities, as the case may be) to the date of such payment or deposit) and any amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the non-payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on Securities of that series that (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.6.
No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
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Section 6.2 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
(a) The Company covenants that (i) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series, or any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (ii) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the reasonable costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6.
(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.
(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under this Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6; any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.6.
(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relating thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.6, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.
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In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may, in its discretion, proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effective to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.3 Application of Moneys Collected.
Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest (upon presentation of the Securities of that series and notation thereon the payment if only partially paid) and upon surrender thereof (if fully paid):
FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6; and
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities of such series for principal and any premium and interest, 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 any premium and interest, respectively.
Section 6.4 Limitation on Suits.
No holder of a Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; and (iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and (v) during such 60 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
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Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or any other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 2.3) interest on such Security (whether upon redemption, repurchase, maturity or otherwise) or payment or delivery of any amounts due upon conversion of Securities of any series that are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption or repurchase, on the redemption date or repurchase date, respectively), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery on or after such respective dates (including the redemption date or repurchase date, as applicable) shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder. By accepting a Security hereunder, it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 6.4, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
Section 6.5 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.7, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.
(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or on acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.
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Section 6.6 Control by Securityholders.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.4, shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of holders of Securities of such series not consenting; and provided, further, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to the taking of any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to reasonable indemnification satisfactory to the Trustee against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.4, may determine, and may have the Trustee on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.1 with respect to such series and its consequences, except for (a) a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, any of the Securities of that series (whether upon redemption, repurchase, maturity or otherwise) or payment or delivery of any amounts due upon conversion of Securities of any series that are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.1(c)), or (b) if the Securities of that series are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities, the failure by the Company to deliver common stock or the other securities, as and when they shall become deliverable by the terms of such Securities. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.7 Undertaking to Pay Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Securities, by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 6.7 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.
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ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(b) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred:
(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may, with respect to the Securities of such series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding (determined as provided in Section 8.4) relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that series; and
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(4) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
Section 7.2 Certain Rights of Trustee.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. The Trustee shall receive and retain financial reports and statements of the Company as provided herein, but shall have no duty to review or analyze such reports or statements to determine compliance under covenants or other obligations of the Company.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of Section 13.7. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents, and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
(e) The permissive rights of the Trustee to take actions enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as duties.
(f) Except with respect to Section 4.1, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company with respect to the covenants contained in Article Four. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of an Event of Default, except (i) any Default or Event of Default occurring pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(2) or (ii) any Default or Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notification from the Company or any Holder of such Default or Event of Default at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the applicable series of Securities and this Indenture.
(g) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities (including as Paying Agent) hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
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(h) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 5.3 is for informational purposes only; the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officers’ Certificate).
(i) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(j) Anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Trustee has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(k) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, (i) acts of God, including earthquakes, fire and flood; (ii) terrorism, wars and other military disturbances; (iii) sabotage, epidemics and riots; (iv) interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; (v) accidents and labor disputes; and (vi) acts of civil or military authorities and governmental actions.
Section 7.3 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities.
(a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same.
(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.1, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.
Section 7.4 May Hold Securities.
The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Security Registrar.
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Section 7.5 Moneys Held in Trust.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.5, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds of the Trustee except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder, except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
Section 7.6 Compensation and Reimbursement.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), as the Company and the Trustee may from time to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ). Except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trusts hereby created, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Securities. The provisions of this Section 7.6 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture.
(c) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after a Default specified in Section 6.1(a)(5) and (6) occurs, such expenses (including the charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services shall be paid to the extent allowed under any Bankruptcy Law and are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 7.7 Reliance on Officers’ Certificate.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
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Section 7.8 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 7.9 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder, which shall at all times 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 other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Securities and Exchange Commission, 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 aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 7.9, 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. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.9, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.
Section 7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation electronically or by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of such series by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the mailing 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 such Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
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(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.9 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, or, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided herein, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company, and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the written consent of the Company.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 7.10 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.
(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 7.10 may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.
Section 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) 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; however, upon 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.
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(b) 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) 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 supple- mental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, 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 that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder. The execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, 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; however, upon request of the Company or any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the 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.
(c) 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 paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7.11, as the case may be.
(d) 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.
(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section 7.11, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.
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Section 7.12 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 the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.8 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.9, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. 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 7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
Section 7.14 Notice of Defaults.
If a Default occurs and is continuing hereunder with respect to Securities of any series and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall send to each holder of such Securities notice of the Default within 90 days after such Default occurs provided, however, that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 6.1(a)(3) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. Except in the case of a default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security (whether upon redemption, repurchase, maturity or otherwise) (including payments pursuant to the redemption or repurchase provisions of such Security, if any) or payment or delivery of any amounts due upon conversion of Securities of any series that are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the holders of such Securities.
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 8.1 Evidence of Action by Securityholders.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.
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If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date (in accordance with Section 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act) for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purpose of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
Section 8.2 Proof of Execution by Securityholders.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his or her agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Company.
(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.
(c) The Trustee or the Company may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.2 as it shall deem necessary.
Section 8.3 Who May be Deemed Owners.
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.3) interest on such Security and for all other purposes. Neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
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Section 8.4 Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded.
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction or consent (or waiver, as the case may be) under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction or consent (or waiver, as the case may be), only Securities of such series that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section 8.4, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
Section 8.5 Actions Binding on Future Securityholders.
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.
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ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders.
In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;
(b) to comply with Article Ten;
(c) to provide for Securities in bearer form, or uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(d) to add Guarantees, including Subsidiary Guarantees, with respect to debt securities or to release Subsidiary Guarantors from Subsidiary Guarantees in accordance with the terms of the applicable series of Securities or to secure a series of Securities;
(e) 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 for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;
(f) to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth;
(g) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect, provided that any amendment to conform the terms of any Securities to its description contained in the final offering document shall not be deemed to be adverse to any Securityholder;
(h) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.1, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished under the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities;
(i) to comply with any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933 qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or to comply with the Trust Indenture Act; or
(j) to secure any series of Security.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.
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Section 9.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.1) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by Board Resolutions, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.1 the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding affected thereby, (i) change the maturity date of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof; (ii) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security payable upon acceleration of maturity; (iii) change the currency in which any Security or any premium or interest is payable; (iv) impair the right to receive payment of principal of and interest on any Security (whether upon redemption, repurchase, maturity, or otherwise) or payment or delivery of any amounts due upon conversion of Securities of any series that are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities on or after the due dates or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any Security; (v) adversely change the right to convert or exchange, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, that Security (if applicable); (vi) if the Securities are secured, change the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Securities are secured in a manner adverse to the holders of the Securities; (vii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of this Indenture or for waiver of compliance with any provision of this Indenture; (viii) reduce the requirements contained in this Indenture for a quorum for a meeting or for voting; (ix) change any obligations of the Company to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes required by this Indenture; or (x) modify any of the above provisions.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Section 9.3 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.1, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
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Section 9.4 Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures.
Securities of any series affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.1, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.
Section 9.5 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by the Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may, in its discretion (but without any obligation to do so) enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, shall be provided an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof; provided, however, that such Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, unless otherwise requested by the Trustee.
Section 9.6 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in effect on such date.
ARTICLE X
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
Section 10.1 Company May Consolidate, Etc.
Unless otherwise specified in a supplemental indenture hereto, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company is not the surviving corporation of such transaction), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture with respect to each series or established with respect to such series pursuant to Section 2.1 to be kept or performed by the Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.
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Section 10.2 Successor Substituted.
(a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture or established with respect to each series of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 to be performed by the Company with respect to each series, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
(c) Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent the Company from merging into itself or acquiring by purchase or otherwise all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).
Section 10.3 Evidence of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, shall be provided an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply with the provisions of this Article.
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ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 11.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.7 and Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.5); or (b) all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or, except in the case of any Securities that are convertible or exchangeable, are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds an amount of money in U.S. dollars sufficient, or non-callable Governmental Obligations, the principal of and interest on which when due, will be sufficient or a combination thereof, 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 at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and any premium and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 7.10, that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.6 and 11.5, that shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.
Section 11.2 Discharge of Obligations.
If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.1 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds money in U.S. dollars sufficient or an amount of non-callable Governmental Obligations, the principal of and interest on which when due, will be sufficient or a combination thereof, 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 at maturity or upon redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and any premium and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 7.6, 7.10 and 11.5 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 7.6 and 11.5 shall survive.
Section 11.3 Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust.
All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.
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Section 11.4 Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents.
In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.
Section 11.5 Repayment to Company.
Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of or premium or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of and any premium or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust. The paying agent and the Trustee thereupon shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.
ARTICLE XII
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 12.1 No Recourse.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom. Any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.
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ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 13.1 Effect on Successors and Assigns.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 13.2 Actions by Successor.
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any Person that shall at the time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.
Section 13.3 Notices.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., 2 University Plaza, Suite 100, Hackensack, NJ 07601, Attention: _________________. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
Section 13.4 Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice to holders of Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given to holders of Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each holder of a Security affected by such event, at the address of such holder as it appears in the Security Register, not earlier than the earliest date, and not later than the latest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice.
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 to holders of Securities by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such holder for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to holders of Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice mailed to any particular holder of a Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other holders of Securities given as provided herein.
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 applicable event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by holders of Securities 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.
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Section 13.5 Governing Law.
This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State.
Section 13.6 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 13.7 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with. However, in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (i) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) 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; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with. Each opinion delivered to the Trustee hereunder may rely on the facts stated in an Officers’ Certificate delivered therewith.
Section 13.8 Payments on Business Days.
Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.1 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption or repurchase of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) (whether upon repurchase, redemption, maturity, or otherwise) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity, redemption, or repurchase, and no additional interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
46
Section 13.9 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture 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 13.10 Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 13.11 Separability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
Section 13.12 Assignment.
The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company, will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.
47
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
| PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||
| By | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| _____________________________________________________________, | |
| as Trustee |
| By | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
Exhibit 4.4
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.,
Issuer
AND
____________________,
Trustee
____________________
INDENTURE
Dated as of _____ ___, 202_
____________________
Table of Contents*
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
|
Section of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended |
Section of | |
| 310(a) | 7.9 | |
| 310(b) | 7.8 | |
| 310(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 311(a) | 7.13 | |
| 311(b) | 7.13 | |
| 311(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 312(a) | 5.01, 5.02(a) | |
| 312(b) | 5.2(c) | |
| 312(c) | 5.2(c) | |
| 313(a) | 5.4(a) | |
| 313(b) | 5.4(b) | |
| 313(c) | 5.4(b) | |
| 313(d) | 5.4(c) | |
| 314(a) | 5.3(a) | |
| 314(b) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(c) | 13.7(a) | |
| 314(d) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(e) | 13.7(b) | |
| 314(f) | Inapplicable | |
| 315(a) | 7.1(b) | |
| 315(b) | 7.14 | |
| 315(c) | 7.1(a) | |
| 315(d) | 7.1(b) | |
| 315(e) | 6.7 | |
| 316(a) | 6.6, 8.4 | |
| 316(b) | 6.4 | |
| 316(c) | 8.1 | |
| 317(a) | 6.2 | |
| 317(b) | 4.3 | |
| 318(a) | 13.9 | |
| 318(c) | 13.9 |
| ARTICLE I | DEFINITIONS | 1 |
| Section 1.1 | Definitions of Terms | 1 |
*This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.
-ii-
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
| ARTICLE II | ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES | 6 |
| Section 2.1 | Designation and Terms of Securities | 6 |
| Section 2.2 | Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate | 8 |
| Section 2.3 | Denominations; Provisions for Payment | 8 |
| Section 2.4 | Execution and Authentication | 10 |
| Section 2.5 | Registration of Transfer and Exchange | 11 |
| Section 2.6 | Temporary Securities | 12 |
| Section 2.7 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities | 12 |
| Section 2.8 | Cancellation | 13 |
| Section 2.9 | Benefits of Indenture | 13 |
| Section 2.10 | Authenticating Agent | 13 |
| Section 2.11 | Global Securities | 14 |
| Section 2.12 | No Obligation of the Trustee | 15 |
| ARTICLE III | REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS | 16 |
| Section 3.1 | Redemption | 16 |
| Section 3.2 | Notice of Redemption | 16 |
| Section 3.3 | Payment Upon Redemption | 17 |
| Section 3.4 | Sinking Fund | 18 |
| Section 3.5 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 18 |
| Section 3.6 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 18 |
| ARTICLE IV | CERTAIN COVENANTS | 19 |
| Section 4.1 | Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 19 |
| Section 4.2 | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 19 |
-iii-
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
| Section 4.3 | Paying Agents | 19 |
| Section 4.4 | Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee | 20 |
| Section 4.5 | Compliance with Consolidation Provisions | 20 |
| Section 4.6 | Statement by Officers as to Default | 20 |
| ARTICLE V | SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE | 21 |
| Section 5.1 | Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders | 21 |
| Section 5.2 | Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders | 21 |
| Section 5.3 | Reports by the Company | 21 |
| Section 5.4 | Reports by the Trustee | 22 |
| ARTICLE VI | REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT | 23 |
| Section 6.1 | Events of Default | 23 |
| Section 6.2 | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 25 |
| Section 6.3 | Application of Moneys Collected | 26 |
| Section 6.4 | Limitation on Suits | 26 |
| Section 6.5 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 27 |
| Section 6.6 | Control by Securityholders | 28 |
| Section 6.7 | Undertaking to Pay Costs | 28 |
| ARTICLE VII | CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE | 29 |
| Section 7.1 | Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee | 29 |
| Section 7.2 | Certain Rights of Trustee | 30 |
| Section 7.3 | Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities | 31 |
| Section 7.4 | May Hold Securities | 32 |
-iv-
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
| Section 7.5 | Moneys Held in Trust | 32 |
| Section 7.6 | Compensation and Reimbursement | 32 |
| Section 7.7 | Reliance on Officers’ Certificate | 33 |
| Section 7.8 | Disqualification; Conflicting Interests | 33 |
| Section 7.9 | Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility | 33 |
| Section 7.10 | Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor | 33 |
| Section 7.11 | Acceptance of Appointment By Successor | 35 |
| Section 7.12 | Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business | 36 |
| Section 7.13 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company | 36 |
| Section 7.14 | Notice of Defaults | 36 |
| ARTICLE VIII | CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS | 37 |
| Section 8.1 | Evidence of Action by Securityholders | 37 |
| Section 8.2 | Proof of Execution by Securityholders | 37 |
| Section 8.3 | Who May be Deemed Owners | 38 |
| Section 8.4 | Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded | 38 |
| Section 8.5 | Actions Binding on Future Securityholders | 38 |
| ARTICLE IX | SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 39 |
| Section 9.1 | Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders | 39 |
| Section 9.2 | Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders | 40 |
| Section 9.3 | Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 41 |
| Section 9.4 | Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures | 41 |
| Section 9.5 | Execution of Supplemental Indentures | 41 |
| Section 9.6 | Conformity with Trust Indenture Act | 41 |
-v-
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
| ARTICLE X | SUCCESSOR CORPORATION | 42 |
| Section 10.1 | Company May Consolidate, Etc. | 42 |
| Section 10.2 | Successor Substituted | 42 |
| Section 10.3 | Evidence of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee | 43 |
| ARTICLE XI | SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | 43 |
| Section 11.1 | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 43 |
| Section 11.2 | Discharge of Obligations | 43 |
| Section 11.3 | Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust | 44 |
| Section 11.4 | Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents | 44 |
| Section 11.5 | Repayment to Company | 44 |
| ARTICLE XII | IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | 45 |
| Section 12.1 | No Recourse | 45 |
| ARTICLE XIII | MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 45 |
| Section 13.1 | Effect on Successors and Assigns | 45 |
| Section 13.2 | Actions by Successor | 45 |
| Section 13.3 | Notices | 45 |
| Section 13.4 | Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver | 46 |
| Section 13.5 | Governing Law | 46 |
| Section 13.6 | Effect of Headings and Table of Contents | 46 |
| Section 13.7 | Compliance Certificates and Opinions | 46 |
| Section 13.8 | Payments on Business Days | 47 |
| Section 13.9 | Conflict with Trust Indenture Act | 47 |
| Section 13.10 | Counterparts | 47 |
| Section 13.11 | Separability | 47 |
-vi-
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
| Section 13.12 | Assignment | 47 |
| ARTICLE XIV | Subordination of Securities | 48 |
| Section 14.1 | Subordination Terms | 48 |
*This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.
-vii-
INDENTURE, dated as of _______ ___, 202__, among Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and _______________, as trustee (the “Trustee”):
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of unsecured subordinated debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee;
WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions of Terms.
The terms defined in this Section 1.1 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.1 and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities or other ownership interests of the specified Person, (b) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities or other ownership interests are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held with power to vote by the specified Person, (c) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the specified Person, (d) a partnership in which the specified Person is a general partner, (e) any officer or director of the specified Person, and (f) if the specified Person is an individual, any entity of which the specified Person is an officer, director or general partner.
“Authenticating Agent” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed with respect to all or any series of the Securities by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such 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.
“Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a day on which Federal or State banking institutions in the City of New York or place of payment, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
“Certificate” means a certificate signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the Treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company. The Certificate need not comply with the provisions of Section 13.7.
“Company” means Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and, subject to the provisions of Article Ten, shall also include its successors and assigns.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at ____________________.
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 hereof.
Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.1 or 2.11.
“Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series any event specified in Section 6.1, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
2
“Governmental Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations 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 that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, 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 Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such indebtedness or other obligation of such Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Guarantor” means any Person Guaranteeing any obligation.
“Guaranty Agreement” means a supplemental indenture, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, pursuant to which a Person Guarantees the Company’s obligations with respect to a series of Securities.
“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.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.
“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 installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.
3
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.7, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.7, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which (i) is issued at a price lower than the amount payable upon the maturity thereof and (ii) provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon redemption or a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1.
“Outstanding”, when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.4, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Article Three, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.7.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint-venture, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“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 2.7 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
“Regular Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 hereof.
4
“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means any authorized officer within the Corporate Trust Department (or corresponding department bearing a different name) of the Trustee, including the president, any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Person who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Securities” means the debt Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Security Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b) hereof.
“Security Registrar” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b) hereof.
“Securityholder”, “holder of Securities”, “registered holder”, or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
“Special Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 hereof.
“Subsidiary” means, in respect of any Person, any corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (a) such Person, (b) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (c) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
“Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Subsidiary of the Company that provides a Guarantee of the obligations of the Company with respect to any series of Securities or enters into a Guaranty Agreement that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Subsidiary Guarantee” means a Guarantee, including any Guaranty Agreement, provided by a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Company’s obligations with respect to any series of Securities.
“Trustee” means _____________________, and, subject to the provisions of Article Seven, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument, subject to the provisions of Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 10.1.
“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity on a series of Securities, calculated at the time of issuance of such series, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.
5
ARTICLE II
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Designation and Terms of Securities.
(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:
(1) the title of the Security of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that 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 that series);
(3) whether any of the Securities of the series will be issuable in whole or in part in temporary or permanent global form or in the form of book-entry securities and, in such case, the identity of the Depositary for such series;
(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;
(5) the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;
(6) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates or the manner of determination of such record dates;
(7) the place or places where payments with respect to the Securities of the series shall be payable;
(8) the right, if any, to defer or extend payment of interest on the debt securities and the maximum length of any deferral or extension period;
(9) the dates, if any, on which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
6
(10) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in satisfaction of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder thereof and the date or dates, if any, on which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(11) if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(12) whether the series of Securities will be subject to any mandatory or optional sinking fund or similar provisions;
(13) the currency or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of the series shall be payable;
(14) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by non-U.S. persons in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such additional amounts;
(15) the terms pursuant to which the Securities of the series are subject to defeasance and satisfaction and discharge;
(16) any addition to, or modification or deletion of, any Events of Default or covenants provided for with respect to the Securities of the series;
(17) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of the series are secured;
(18) whether the Securities of the series will be convertible into shares of common stock or any other securities of the Company and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible, including whether conversion is mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at the option of the Company, the conversion price, the conversion period and any provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of common stock or other securities of the Company to be received by the holders of such series of Securities would be subject to adjustment;
(19) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1;
(20) any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs;
7
(21) any special tax implications of the Securities of the series, including provisions for Original Issue Discount Securities, if offered;
(22) the form of the Securities of the series, including the form of the Certificate of Authentication for such series;
(23) the subordination terms of the Securities of the series; and
(24) any and all other terms with respect to such series, including any terms which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that series.
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 any such Board Resolution or in any indentures 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 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.
Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates. Unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series.
Section 2.2 Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate.
The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution of the Company and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, 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 Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.
Section 2.3 Denominations; Provisions for Payment.
The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the minimum denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.1(a)(12). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the Interest Payment Dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.1, the principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the United States, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities, by the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.1, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.
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The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the applicable Business Day that is the Regular Record Date for such interest installment. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of a series of Securities, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be mailed by check to the holders of the Securities of any series at their respective addresses set forth in the Security Register (as herein defined) or wired if held in book-entry form at The Depository Trust Company. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and on or prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.3.
Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on the applicable Business Day that is 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 such Security 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. The Trustee shall then fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall be no longer payable pursuant to the following clause (2).
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(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities 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.
Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the term “Regular Record Date”, as used in this Section 2.3, with respect to a series of Securities with respect to any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either (i) the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or (ii) the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.
Section 2.4 Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.
A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee or an Authentication Agent manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
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 written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by two Officers, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities in accordance with such written order.
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 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate stating that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.
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 that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
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Section 2.5 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose in the United States, or such other location designated by the Company, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section 2.5. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose in the United States, or such other location designated by the Company a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as provided in this Article and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Unless otherwise specified in a supplemental indenture, the Trustee is hereby appointed as “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering the Securities and the transfer of Securities of each series.
Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.
All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section 2.5, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.
(c) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.6, Section 3.3(b) and Section 9.4 not involving any transfer.
(d) The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption except the unredeemed portion of any Securities of any series being redeemed in part. The provisions of this Section 2.5 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.
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Section 2.6 Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay, the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series, and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose, and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 2.7 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.
In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any Officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, 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. In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof, except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.
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Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.7 shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.8 Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company any canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request, the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.9 Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of Article Fourteen, the holders of senior indebtedness), any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained, all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of Article Fourteen, the holders of senior indebtedness).
Section 2.10 Authenticating Agent.
So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee, with the written consent of the Company, shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, 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. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.
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Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.
Section 2.11 Global Securities.
(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.1 that the Securities of a particular series are issuable as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.4, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect exchanges, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.” Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the written request signed in the name of the Company, by two Officers thereof to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.4 or Section 2.6.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.5, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part, and in the manner provided in Section 2.5, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
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(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.5, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and subject to Section 2.5, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
(d) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to a particular series of the Securities, the Company may execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate directing the authorization and delivery thereof, shall authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security.
Section 2.12 No Obligation of the Trustee.
(a) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in, the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holder or Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary, subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
(b) The Trustee shall have no obligations or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among the Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
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ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section 3.1 Redemption.
The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
Section 3.2 Notice of Redemption.
(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with the right reserved in such Securities so to do, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by sending electronically or by mailing, first class postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is sent in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure to duly give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. 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 any such restriction.
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price (or the manner of calculation thereof) at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company in the United States, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in whole or in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
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(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 30 days’ notice in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot on a pro rata basis or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion. The portion of the principal amount of Securities so selected for partial redemption shall be equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof. Upon making its selection, the Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable supplemental indenture, the Company shall not be required to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Securities of a series that are subject to redemption during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all of that series of Securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing.
The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by any Officer, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section 3.2, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name, as the Trustee or such paying agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under this Section 3.2.
Section 3.3 Payment Upon Redemption.
(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. Interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption. However, if the date fixed for redemption is subsequent to a Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and on or prior to such Interest Payment Date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable Regular Record Date pursuant to Section 2.3.
(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
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Section 3.4 Sinking Fund.
The provisions of Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series 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 Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.5. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
Section 3.5 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and (ii) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that 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 the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 3.6 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.5 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before 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 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.2. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.3.
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ARTICLE IV
CERTAIN COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities.
Section 4.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency in the United States with respect to each such series, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as hereinabove authorized for registration of transfer and exchange and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. 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, 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, notices and demands.
Section 4.3 Paying Agents.
(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.3:
(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;
(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;
(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and
(4) that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.
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(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it shall on or before each due date of the principal of and any premium or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, a sum sufficient to pay such principal and any premium or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. 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 and any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.3 to the contrary, (i) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.5 and (ii) 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 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 terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; 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.
Section 4.4 Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee.
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
Section 4.5 Compliance with Consolidation Provisions.
The Company will not, while any of the Securities remain Outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property to any other company unless the provisions of Article Ten hereof are complied with.
Section 4.6 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 signed by its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer thereof, the Company is in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture, and if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.
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ARTICLE V
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS
BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 5.1 Company to Furnish Names and Addresses of Securityholders to Trustee.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) semiannually on _____ ___ and _____ ___, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to be furnished such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series of Securities for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.
Section 5.2 Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.1 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).
(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the sending of any material pursuant to a request made pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 5.3 Reports by the Company.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee (unless such reports have been filed on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system), within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Securities and Exchange Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. If the Company is no longer required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections of the Exchange Act, the Company shall continue to provide the Trustee with reports containing substantially the same information as would have been required to be filed with the Securities Exchange Commission had the Company continued to have been subject to such reporting requirements. In such event, such reports shall be provided to the Trustee within 15 days after the dates applicable to a registrant that is not an accelerated filer or a large accelerated filer on which the Company would have been required to provide reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission had it continued to have been subject to such reporting requirements. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall also comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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(b) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees to transmit electronically or by mail, first class postage prepaid, or reputable over-night delivery service that provides for evidence of receipt, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 5.3 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 5.4 Reports by the Trustee.
(a) On or before _____ ___ in each year in which any of the Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding _____ ___, if and to the extent required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, detailing certain events that occurred within the previous 12 months.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any stock exchange.
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ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 6.1 Events of Default.
(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing:
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto, shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
(2) the Company defaults (a) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or (b) in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series, whether or not such payment is prohibited by Article Fourteen and the provisions of any indenture supplemental hereto; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto, shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or any premium for this purpose;
(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given in writing 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 Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;
(4) if the Securities of the series are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities of the Company, failure by the Company to deliver common stock or the other securities when the holder or holders of such Securities elect to convert such Securities into shares of common stock or other securities of the Company;
(5) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and, in each such case, the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or
(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.
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(b) In each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in clauses (5) or (6) above), unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee, if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, on all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, notwithstanding anything contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of that series or established with respect to that series pursuant to Section 2.1 to the contrary. If an Event of Default specified in clauses (5) or (6) above occurs, all unpaid principal (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, on, all the Securities of that series then outstanding will become automatically due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holder.
(c) At any time after the principal of the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) expressed in the Securities of that series (or at the respective rates of interest or Yields to Maturity of all the Securities, as the case may be) to the date of such payment or deposit) and any amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the non-payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on Securities of that series that (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.6.
No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
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Section 6.2 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
(a) The Company covenants that (i) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series, or any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (ii) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the reasonable costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6.
(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.
(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under this Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6; any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.6.
(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relating thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.6, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.
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In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may, in its discretion, proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effective to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.3 Application of Moneys Collected.
Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest (upon presentation of the Securities of that series and notation thereon the payment if only partially paid) and upon surrender thereof (if fully paid):
FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6;
SECOND: To the payment of all senior indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article Fourteen; and
THIRD: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities of such series for principal and any premium and interest, 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 any premium and interest, respectively.
Section 6.4 Limitation on Suits.
No holder of a Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; and (iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and (v) during such 60 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
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Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or any other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 2.3) interest on such Security (whether upon redemption, repurchase, maturity or otherwise) or payment or delivery of any amounts due upon conversion of Securities of any series that are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption or repurchase, on the redemption date or repurchase date, respectively), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery on or after such respective dates (including the redemption date or repurchase date, as applicable) shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder. By accepting a Security hereunder, it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 6.4, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
Section 6.5 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.7, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.
(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or on acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.
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Section 6.6 Control by Securityholders.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.4, shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of holders of Securities of such series not consenting; and provided, further, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to the taking of any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to reasonable indemnification satisfactory to the Trustee against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.4, may determine, and may have the Trustee on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.1 with respect to such series and its consequences, except for (a) a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, any of the Securities of that series (whether upon redemption, repurchase, maturity or otherwise) or payment or delivery of any amounts due upon conversion of Securities of any series that are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.1(c)), or (b) if the Securities of that series are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities, the failure by the Company to deliver common stock or the other securities, as and when they shall become deliverable by the terms of such Securities. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.7 Undertaking to Pay Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Securities, by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 6.7 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.
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ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(b) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred:
(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may, with respect to the Securities of such series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
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(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding (determined as provided in Section 8.4) relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that series; and
(4) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
Section 7.2 Certain Rights of Trustee.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. The Trustee shall receive and retain financial reports and statements of the Company as provided herein, but shall have no duty to review or analyze such reports or statements to determine compliance under covenants or other obligations of the Company.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of Section 13.7. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents, and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
(e) The permissive rights of the Trustee to take actions enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as duties.
(f) Except with respect to Section 4.1, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company with respect to the covenants contained in Article Four. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of an Event of Default, except (i) any Default or Event of Default occurring pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(2) or (ii) any Default or Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notification from the Company or any Holder of such Default or Event of Default at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the applicable series of Securities and this Indenture.
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(g) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities (including as Paying Agent) hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(h) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 5.3 is for informational purposes only; the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officers’ Certificate).
(i) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(j) Anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Trustee has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(k) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, (i) acts of God, including earthquakes, fire and flood; (ii) terrorism, wars and other military disturbances; (iii) sabotage, epidemics and riots; (iv) interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; (v) accidents and labor disputes; and (vi) acts of civil or military authorities and governmental actions.
Section 7.3 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities.
(a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same.
(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.1, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.
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Section 7.4 May Hold Securities.
The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Security Registrar.
Section 7.5 Moneys Held in Trust.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.5, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds of the Trustee except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder, except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
Section 7.6 Compensation and Reimbursement.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), as the Company and the Trustee may from time to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ). Except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trusts hereby created, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Securities. The provisions of this Section 7.6 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture.
(c) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after a Default specified in Section 6.1(a)(5) and (6) occurs, such expenses (including the charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services shall be paid to the extent allowed under any Bankruptcy Law and are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
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Section 7.7 Reliance on Officers’ Certificate.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
Section 7.8 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 7.9 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder, which shall at all times 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 other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Securities and Exchange Commission, 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 aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 7.9, 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. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.9, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.
Section 7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation electronically or by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of such series by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the mailing 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 such Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
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(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.9 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, or, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided herein, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company, and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the written consent of the Company.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 7.10 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.
(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 7.10 may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.
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Section 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) 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; however, upon 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.
(b) 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) 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 supple- mental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, 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 that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder. The execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, 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; however, upon request of the Company or any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the 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.
(c) 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 paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7.11, as the case may be.
(d) 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.
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(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section 7.11, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.
Section 7.12 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 the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.8 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.9, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. 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 7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
Section 7.14 Notice of Defaults.
If a Default occurs and is continuing hereunder with respect to Securities of any series and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall send to each holder of such Securities notice of the Default within 90 days after such Default occurs provided, however, that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 6.1(a)(3) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. Except in the case of a default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security (whether upon redemption, repurchase, maturity or otherwise) (including payments pursuant to the redemption or repurchase provisions of such Security, if any) or payment or delivery of any amounts due upon conversion of Securities of any series that are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the holders of such Securities.
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ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 8.1 Evidence of Action by Securityholders.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.
If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date (in accordance with Section 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act) for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purpose of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
Section 8.2 Proof of Execution by Securityholders.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his or her agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Company.
(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.
(c) The Trustee or the Company may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.2 as it shall deem necessary.
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Section 8.3 Who May be Deemed Owners.
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.3) interest on such Security and for all other purposes. Neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 8.4 Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded.
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction or consent (or waiver, as the case may be) under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction or consent (or waiver, as the case may be), only Securities of such series that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section 8.4, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
Section 8.5 Actions Binding on Future Securityholders.
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.
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ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders.
In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;
(b) to comply with Article Ten;
(c) to provide for Securities in bearer form, or uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(d) to add Guarantees, including Subsidiary Guarantees, with respect to debt securities or to release Subsidiary Guarantors from Subsidiary Guarantees in accordance with the terms of the applicable series of Securities or to secure a series of Securities;
(e) 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 for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;
(f) to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth;
(g) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect, provided that any amendment to conform the terms of any Securities to its description contained in the final offering document shall not be deemed to be adverse to any Securityholder;
(h) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.1, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished under the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities;
(i) to comply with any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933 qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or to comply with the Trust Indenture Act; or
(j) to secure any series of Security.
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The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.
Section 9.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.1) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by Board Resolutions, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.1 the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding affected thereby, (i) change the maturity date of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof; (ii) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security payable upon acceleration of maturity; (iii) change the currency in which any Security or any premium or interest is payable; (iv) impair the right to receive payment of principal of and interest on any Security (whether upon redemption, repurchase, maturity, or otherwise) or payment or delivery of any amounts due upon conversion of Securities of any series that are convertible into shares of common stock or other securities on or after the due dates or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any Security; (v) adversely change the right to convert or exchange, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, that Security (if applicable); (vi) if the Securities are secured, change the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Securities are secured in a manner adverse to the holders of the Securities; (vii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of this Indenture or for waiver of compliance with any provision of this Indenture; (viii) reduce the requirements contained in this Indenture for a quorum for a meeting or for voting; (ix) change any obligations of the Company to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes required by this Indenture; (x) modify the subordination provisions in a manner adverse to the holders of such Securities; or (xi) modify any of the above provisions.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
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Section 9.3 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.1, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section 9.4 Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures.
Securities of any series affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.1, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.
Section 9.5 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by the Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may, in its discretion (but without any obligation to do so) enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, shall be provided an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof; provided, however, that such Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, unless otherwise requested by the Trustee.
Section 9.6 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in effect on such date.
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ARTICLE X
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
Section 10.1 Company May Consolidate, Etc.
Unless otherwise specified in a supplemental indenture hereto, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company is not the surviving corporation of such transaction), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture with respect to each series or established with respect to such series pursuant to Section 2.1 to be kept or performed by the Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.
Section 10.2 Successor Substituted.
(a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture or established with respect to each series of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 to be performed by the Company with respect to each series, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
(c) Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent the Company from merging into itself or acquiring by purchase or otherwise all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).
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Section 10.3 Evidence of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, shall be provided an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply with the provisions of this Article.
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 11.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.7 and Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.5); or (b) all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or, except in the case of any Securities that are convertible or exchangeable, are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds an amount of money in U.S. dollars sufficient, or non-callable Governmental Obligations, the principal of and interest on which when due, will be sufficient or a combination thereof, 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 at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and any premium and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 7.10, that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.6 and 11.5, that shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.
Section 11.2 Discharge of Obligations.
If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.1 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds money in U.S. dollars sufficient or an amount of non-callable Governmental Obligations, the principal of and interest on which when due, will be sufficient or a combination thereof, 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 at maturity or upon redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and any premium and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 7.6, 7.10 and 11.5 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 7.6 and 11.5 shall survive.
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Section 11.3 Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust.
All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.
Section 11.4 Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents.
In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.
Section 11.5 Repayment to Company.
Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of or premium or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of and any premium or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust. The paying agent and the Trustee thereupon shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.
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ARTICLE XII
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 12.1 No Recourse.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom. Any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 13.1 Effect on Successors and Assigns.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 13.2 Actions by Successor.
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any Person that shall at the time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.
Section 13.3 Notices.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., 2 University Plaza, Suite 100, Hackensack, NJ 07601, Attention: _________________. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
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Section 13.4 Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice to holders of Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given to holders of Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each holder of a Security affected by such event, at the address of such holder as it appears in the Security Register, not earlier than the earliest date, and not later than the latest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice.
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 to holders of Securities by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such holder for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to holders of Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice mailed to any particular holder of a Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other holders of Securities given as provided herein.
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 applicable event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by holders of Securities 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.
Section 13.5 Governing Law.
This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State.
Section 13.6 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 13.7 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with. However, in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (i) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) 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; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with. Each opinion delivered to the Trustee hereunder may rely on the facts stated in an Officers’ Certificate delivered therewith.
46
Section 13.8 Payments on Business Days.
Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.1 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption or repurchase of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) (whether upon repurchase, redemption, maturity, or otherwise) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity, redemption, or repurchase, and no additional interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
Section 13.9 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture 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 13.10 Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 13.11 Separability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
Section 13.12 Assignment.
The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company, will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.
47
ARTICLE XIV
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
Section 14.1 Subordination Terms.
The payment by the Company of the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of Securities issued hereunder shall be subordinated to the extent set forth in an indenture supplemental hereto relating to such Securities.
48
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
| PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||
| By | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| , | ||
| as Trustee |
| By | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
Exhibit 5.1
|
Mayer Brown LLP | |
| 1221 Avenue of the Americas | |
| New York, NY 10020-1001 | |
| Main Tel +1 212 506 2500 | |
| Main Fax +1 212 262 1910 | |
| April 20, 2022 | www.mayerbrown.com |
| Anna T. Pinedo | |
| Direct Tel +1 212 506 2275 | |
| Direct Fax +1 212 849 5767 | |
| apinedo@mayerbrown.com | |
| Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. | |
| 2 Snunit Street, Science Park | |
| P.O. Box 455 | |
| Carmiel 20100, Israel |
Re: Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. – Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the offer from time to time, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable), of up to $100,000,000 aggregate amount of any or all of the following securities: (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”); (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Stock”); (iii) debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”), including senior debt securities of the Company (“Senior Debt Securities”) and subordinated debt securities of the Company (the “Subordinated Debt Securities”); and (iv) warrants of the Company (the “Warrants,” and together with the Common Stock, Preferred Stock and Debt Securities, the “Securities”). The Securities being registered under the Registration Statement will be offered by the Company on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
The Debt Securities are to be issued from time to time pursuant to either a senior indenture (the “Senior Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and an institution to be identified therein, as trustee (the “Trustee”), or a subordinated indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture” and together with the Senior Indenture, the “Indentures” and each, an “Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and the Trustee.
The Warrants may be issued from time to time pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into by the Company and one or more institutions, as warrant agents (each, a “Warrant Agent”), each to be identified in the applicable Warrant Agreement.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined such corporate records, documents, instruments, certificates of public officials and of the Company and such questions of law as we have deemed necessary for the purpose of rendering the opinions set forth herein. We also have examined the Registration Statement.
In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all items submitted to us as originals and the conformity with originals of all items submitted to us as copies.
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
April 20, 2022
Page 2
The opinions hereinafter expressed are subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:
(i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, including, without limitation, laws relating to fraudulent transfers or conveyances, preferences and equitable subordination;
(ii) limitations imposed by general principles of equity upon the availability of equitable remedies or the enforcement of provisions of any Securities, and the effect of judicial decisions which have held that certain provisions are unenforceable where their enforcement would violate the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, or would be commercially unreasonable, or where their breach is not material; and
(iii) our opinion is based upon current statutes, rules, regulations, cases and official interpretive opinions, and it covers certain items that are not directly or definitively addressed by such authorities.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that:
1. When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and when the necessary corporate action on the part of the Company has been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such shares of Common Stock proposed to be sold by the Company, and when such shares of Common Stock are issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against payment therefor (in excess of par value thereof) or upon conversion or exercise of any security offered under the Registration Statement (the “Offered Security”), in accordance with the terms of such Offered Security or the instrument governing such Offered Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), for the consideration approved by the Board (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Common Stock), such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable.
2. When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and upon designation of the relative rights, preferences and limitations of any series of Preferred Stock by the Board and the proper filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of a Certificate of Designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock, all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company will have been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such series of Preferred Stock proposed to be sold by the Company, and when such shares of Preferred Stock are issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against payment therefor (in excess of par value thereof), such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3. When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and when the terms of the Debt Securities to be issued under the applicable Indenture and their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and when the Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the applicable Indenture and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to the authority granted in the resolutions of the Board, the Debt Securities will be valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the applicable Indenture.
4. When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and when the terms of the Warrant Agreements under which the Warrants of the Company are to be issued have been duly established and the Warrant Agreements have been duly executed and delivered and when the terms of such Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Warrant Agreement and when such Warrants have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to the authority granted in the resolutions of the Board and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company.
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
April 20, 2022
Page 3
In rendering the opinions expressed above, we have further assumed that: (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective and comply with all applicable laws; (ii) the Registration Statement will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement; (iii) the terms of the Securities will conform, where applicable, to the respective forms thereof filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and the terms of all Securities will conform in all material respects to the respective descriptions thereof in the Prospectus which is part of the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”); (iv) the Securities will be sold and delivered to, and paid for by, the purchasers at the price specified in, and in accordance with the terms of, an agreement or agreements duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto; and (v) certificates, if required, representing the Securities will be duly executed and delivered and, to the extent required by any applicable agreement, duly authenticated and countersigned.
It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale of Securities while the Registration Statement is in effect.
We are opining only as to the matters expressly set forth herein and that no opinion should be inferred as to any other matter. This opinion is based upon currently existing statutes, rules, regulations and judicial decisions, and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change in any of these sources of law or subsequent legal or factual developments which might affect any matters or opinions set forth herein.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are acting within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
|
Very truly yours, |
|
| /s/ Mayer Brown LLP | |
| Mayer Brown LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. of our report dated March 31, 2022 relating to the financial statements, which appears in Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts" in such Registration Statement.
|
Tel-Aviv, Israel April 20, 2022
|
/s/ Kesselman & Kesselman Certified Public Accountants (lsr.) A member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited |
Kesselman & Kesselman, Derech Menachem Begin 146, Tel-Aviv 6492103, Israel,
P.O Box 7187 Tel-Aviv 6107120, Telephone: +972 -3- 7954555, Fax:+972 -3- 7954556, www.pwc.com/il
Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
FORM S-3
(Form Type)
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities
| Security Type | Security Class Title | Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule | Amount Registered(1) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | Fee Rate | Amount
of Registration Fee | Carry Forward Form Type | Carry Forward File Number | Carry Forward Initial Effective Date | Filing
Fee Previously Paid in Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Newly Registered Securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to Be Paid | Equity | Common Stock | Rule 457(o) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to Be Paid | Equity | Preferred Stock | Rule 457(o) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to Be Paid | Debt | Debt Securities | Rule 457(o) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to Be Paid | Equity | Warrants | Rule 457(o) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated (Universal) Shelf | $ | 100,000,000 | 0.0000927 | $ | 9,270.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carry Forward Securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Offering Amounts | $ | 100,000,000 | $ | 9,270.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Fees Previously Paid | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Fee Offsets | $ | 5,557.01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Fee Due | $ | 3,712.99 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | There are being registered under this registration statement such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock, debt securities and/or warrants of the Registrant as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $100,000,000. Any securities registered under this registration statement may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered under this registration statement. The proposed maximum initial offering prices per unit will be determined, from time to time, by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered under this registration statement. The securities registered also include such indeterminate amounts and numbers of common stock as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for preferred stock, debt securities or warrants that provide for such conversion or exchange. |
Table 2: Fee Offset Claims and Sources
| Registrant
or Filer Name | Form or Filing Type | File Number | Initial
Filing Date | Filing Date | Fee
Offset Claimed | Security Type Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Security
Title Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Unsold Securities Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Unsold Aggregate Offering Amount Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Fee Paid with Fee Offset Source |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Rule 457(p) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fee Offset Claims | Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. | S-3 | 333-230604 | 03/29/2019 | $ | 5,557.01 | Unallocated (Universal) Shelf | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | On March 29, 2019, the registrant initially filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-230604) (the “Original Registration Statement”), which registered (i) an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, Debt Securities and Warrants to be offered by the registrant from time to time (together, the “Original Offerings”). This gross proceeds from the Original Offerings were $54,150,046.56. The Original Registration Statement expired on April 12, 2022. Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, the Registrant is carrying forward to this registration statement $5,557.01 that was previously paid in connection with the Registrant’s prior registration statement (File No. 333-230604). |