Strive, Inc S-3, filed Apr 16, 2024
Strive, Inc. (ASST)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 2024
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Asset Entities Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Nevada | 88-1293236 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
100 Crescent Ct, 7th Floor
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 459-3117
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Matthew Krueger, Chief Financial Officer
100 Crescent Ct, 7th Floor
Dallas, TX 75201
(262) 527-0966
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Louis A. Bevilacqua, Esq.
Bevilacqua PLLC
1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 869-0888
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
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, 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 ☒ | Smaller reporting company ☒ |
| 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 standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of 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 which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange 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 until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
| PROSPECTUS | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 16, 2024 |
$100,000,000
Asset Entities Inc.
Class B Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Units
We may issue securities from time to time in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus, which will also describe the specific manner in which these securities will be offered and may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement before you invest. The aggregate offering price of the securities we sell pursuant to this prospectus will not exceed $100,000,000.
The securities may be sold directly to you, through agents or through underwriters and dealers. If agents, underwriters or dealers are used to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of those securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from that sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
Our Class B Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), is listed and traded under the symbol “ASST” on the Nasdaq Capital Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq. Each prospectus supplement will indicate whether the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.
As of April 16, 2024, the aggregate market value of our outstanding Class B Common Stock held by non-affiliates was $2,431,627.11 based upon 7,513,971 shares of outstanding Class B Common Stock, of which 5,803,406 shares were held by non-affiliates, and the last reported sale price of our Class B Common Stock of $0.419 per share on April 15, 2024. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3, in no event will we sell shares pursuant to this prospectus having a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any 12-month period so long as our public float remains below $75,000,000. In the event that subsequent to the date of this prospectus the aggregate market value of our outstanding Class B Common Stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $75,000,000, such one-third limitation on sales shall not apply to sales subsequently made pursuant to this prospectus. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the 12 calendar month period that ends on and includes the date hereof.
Investing in our securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus, in any applicable prospectus supplement, in any related free writing prospectus, and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus before you make an investment decision.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or provincial securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2024.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings for an aggregate offering price up to $100,000,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time we sell securities, we will provide one or more prospectus supplements that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described in the sections of this prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference.”
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information that we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
In this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, “we,” “us,” “our,” “Asset Entities,” “the Company,” “our company” and similar references refer to the operations of Asset Entities Inc., a Nevada corporation.
ii
This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding whether to invest in our securities. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, including the risks associated with an investment in our company discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Some of the statements in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. See the section titled “Forward-Looking Statements.”
Company Overview
Asset Entities is a technology company providing social media marketing and content delivery services across Discord, TikTok, and other social media platforms. We also design, develop and manage servers for communities on Discord. Based on the rapid growth of our Discord servers and social media following, we have developed three categories of services: (1) our Discord investment education and entertainment services, (2) social media and marketing services, and (3) our “AE.360.DDM” services. All of our services are based on our effective use of Discord as well as other social media including TikTok, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Our Discord investment education and entertainment service is designed primarily by and for enthusiastic Generation Z, or Gen Z, retail investors, creators and influencers. Gen Z is commonly considered to be people born between 1997 and 2012. Our investment education and entertainment service focuses on stock, real estate, cryptocurrency, and NFT community learning programs designed for the next generation. While we believe that Gen Z will continue to be our primary market, our recently-expanded Discord server offering features education and entertainment content covering real estate investments, which is expected to appeal strongly to older generations as well. Our current combined server user membership is approximately 210,000 as of March 2024.
Our social media and marketing services utilize our management’s social influencer backgrounds by offering social media and marketing campaign services to business clients. Our team of social influencer independent contractors, which we call our “SiN” or “Social Influencer Network”, can perform social media and marketing campaign services to expand our clients’ Discord server bases and drive traffic to their businesses, as well as increase membership in our own servers.
Our “AE.360.DDM, Design Develop Manage” service, or “AE.360.DDM”, is a suite of services to individuals and companies seeking to create a server on Discord. We believe we are the first company to provide “Design, Develop and Manage,” or DDM, services for any individual, company, or organization that wishes to join Discord and create their own community. With our AE.360.DDM rollout, we are uniquely positioned to offer DDM services in the growing market for Discord servers.
We believe that we are a leading provider of all of these services, and that demand for all of our services will continue to grow. We expect to experience rapid revenue growth from our services. We believe that we have built a scalable and sustainable business model and that our competitive strengths position us favorably in each aspect of our business.
Our revenue depends on the number of paying subscribers to our Discord servers. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we received revenue from 298 and 8,694 Asset Entities Discord server paying subscribers, respectively. We define “members” as all Discord users who join any of our Discord servers, regardless of whether they subscribe to our premium content, and “paying subscribers” as members who pay a fee to subscribe to our premium Discord content.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 100 Crescent Court, 7th Floor, Dallas, TX 75201, and our telephone number is (214) 459-3117. We maintain a website at https:// assetentities.com/. Information available on our website is not incorporated by reference in and is not deemed a part of this prospectus.
The Securities That May Be Offered
We may offer or sell Class B Common Stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, and units in one or more offerings and in any combination. The aggregate offering price of the securities we sell pursuant to this prospectus will not exceed $100,000,000. Each time securities are offered with this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered and the net proceeds we expect to receive from that sale.
1
The securities may be sold to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers or as otherwise set forth in the section of this prospectus titled “Plan of Distribution.” Each prospectus supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers, agents or other entities involved in the sale of securities described in that prospectus supplement and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.
Common Stock
We may offer shares of our Class B Common Stock either alone or underlying other registered securities that are exercisable or convertible into our Class B Common Stock. Holders of our Class B Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, subject to rights, if any, of preferred stockholders. We have not paid dividends in the past and have no current plans to pay dividends. Each holder of Class B Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share. The holders of Class B Common Stock have no preemptive rights.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, subject to limitations prescribed by Nevada law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders. Each series of preferred stock offered by us will be more fully described in the particular prospectus supplement that will accompany this prospectus, including redemption provisions, rights in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, voting rights and rights to convert into Class B Common Stock.
Debt Securities
We may offer secured or unsecured obligations in the form of one or more series of senior or subordinated debt. The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities are together referred to in this prospectus as the “debt securities.” The subordinated debt securities generally will be entitled to payment only after payment of our senior debt. Senior debt generally includes all debt for money borrowed by us, except debt that is stated in the instrument governing the terms of that debt to be not senior to, or to have the same rank in right of payment as, or to be expressly junior to, the subordinated debt securities. We may issue debt securities that are convertible into shares of our Class B Common Stock.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be identified in an accompanying prospectus supplement. We have summarized the general features of the debt securities to be governed by the indenture in this prospectus and the form of indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We encourage you to read the indenture.
Warrants
We may offer warrants for the purchase of Class B Common Stock, preferred stock or debt securities. We may offer warrants independently or together with other securities.
Subscription Rights
We may offer subscription rights to purchase our Class B Common Stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units consisting of some or all of these securities. These subscription rights may be offered independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering.
Units
We may offer units comprised of one or more of the other classes of securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit.
2
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of our securities will contain a discussion of the risks applicable to an investment in our securities. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the section in the applicable prospectus supplement titled “Risk Factors,” together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement or appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, and in any applicable prospectus supplement and our other filings with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations.
3
This prospectus, each prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and each prospectus supplement may contain certain statements that 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. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “potentially,” “likely,” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Those statements appear in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference, particularly in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of our management that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. You are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.
Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein after we distribute this prospectus, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and although we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted a thorough inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus may contain market data that we obtain from industry sources. These sources do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information. Although we believe that our industry sources are reliable, we do not independently verify the information. The market data may include projections that are based on a number of other projections. While we believe these assumptions to be reasonable and sound as of the date of this prospectus, actual results may differ from the projections.
4
Except as described in any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us under this prospectus to fund the growth of our business, primarily working capital, and for general corporate purposes.
We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in technologies, products and/or businesses that we believe will enhance the value of our Company. Depending on future events and others changes in the business climate, we may determine at a later time to use the net proceeds for different purposes. As a result, our management will have broad discretion in the allocation of the net proceeds and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of the securities. Additional information on the use of net proceeds from the sale of securities covered by this prospectus may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the specific offering.
Our authorized capital stock currently consists of 250,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of which 10,000,000 shares are designated Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Class A Common Stock”), and 190,000,000 shares are designated as Class B Common Stock; and (ii) 50,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share.
As of April 16, 2024, there were 7,532,029 shares of Class A Common Stock, 7,513,971 shares of Class B Common Stock, excluding 219,450 shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
The description of our capital stock is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on April 2, 2024.
5
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following is a summary of the general terms of the debt securities that we may issue. We will file a prospectus supplement that may contain additional terms when we issue debt securities. The terms presented here, together with the terms in a related prospectus supplement, will be a description of the material terms of the debt securities. You should also read the indenture under which the debt securities are to be issued. We have filed a form of indenture governing different types of debt securities with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. All capitalized terms have the meanings specified in the indenture.
We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series, that will consist of senior debt, senior subordinated debt or subordinated debt. We refer to the subordinated debt securities and the senior subordinated debt securities together as the subordinated securities. The debt securities that we may offer will be issued under an indenture between us and an entity, identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, as trustee. Debt securities, whether senior, senior subordinated or subordinated, may be issued as convertible debt securities or exchangeable debt securities. The following is a summary of the material provisions of the indenture filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
As you read this section, please remember that for each series of debt securities, the specific terms of your debt security as described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in the summary below. The statement we make in this section may not apply to your debt security. Prospective investors should rely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement and not on the following information to the extent that the information in such prospectus supplement is different from the following information.
General Terms of the Indenture
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. We may, without the consent of the holders of any series, increase the principal amount of securities in that series in the future, on the same terms and conditions and with the same CUSIP numbers as that series. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.
We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount”, or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.
6
The applicable prospectus supplement for a series of debt securities that we issue will describe, among other things, the following terms of the offered debt securities:
| ● | the title and authorized denominations of the series of debt securities; |
| ● | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the series of debt securities; |
| ● | whether such debt securities will be issued in fully registered form without coupons or in a form registered as to principal only with coupons or in bearer form with coupons; |
| ● | whether issued in the form of one or more global securities and whether all or a portion of the principal amount of the debt securities is represented thereby; |
| ● | the price or prices at which the debt securities will be issued; |
| ● | the date or dates on which principal is payable; |
| ● | the place or places where and the manner in which principal, premium or interest, if any, will be payable and the place or places where the debt securities may be presented for transfer and, if applicable, conversion or exchange; |
| ● | interest rates, and the dates from which interest, if any, will accrue, and the dates when interest is payable and the maturity; |
| ● | the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions; |
| ● | our rights or obligations to redeem or purchase the debt securities; |
| ● | any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem some or all of the debt securities; |
| ● | conversion or exchange provisions, if any, including conversion or exchange prices or rates and adjustments thereto; |
| ● | the currency or currencies of payment of principal or interest; |
| ● | the terms applicable to any debt securities issued at a discount from their stated principal amount; |
| ● | the terms, if any, under which any debt securities will rank junior to any of our other debt; |
| ● | whether and upon what terms the debt securities may be defeased, if different from the provisions set forth in the indenture; |
| ● | if the amount of payments of principal or interest is to be determined by reference to an index or formula, or based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which these amounts are determined and the calculation agent, if any, with respect thereto; |
| ● | the provisions, if any, relating to any collateral provided for the debt securities; |
| ● | if other than the entire principal amount of the debt securities when issued, the portion of the principal amount payable upon acceleration of maturity as a result of a default on our obligations; |
| ● | the events of default and covenants relating to the debt securities that are in addition to, modify or delete those described in this prospectus; |
| ● | the nature and terms of any security for any secured debt securities; and |
| ● | any other specific terms of any debt securities. |
The applicable prospectus supplement will present material U.S. federal income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities and the securities exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are to be listed or quoted.
7
Senior Debt Securities
Payment of the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on senior debt securities will rank on a parity with all of our other secured/unsecured and unsubordinated debt.
Senior Subordinated Debt Securities
Payment of the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on senior subordinated debt securities will be junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our unsubordinated debt, including senior debt securities and any credit facility. We will state in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any senior subordinated debt securities the subordination terms of the securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the senior subordinated debt securities. We will also state in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior debt.
Subordinated Debt Securities
Payment of the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on subordinated debt securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior debt, including our senior debt securities and senior subordinated debt securities. We will state in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any subordinated debt securities the subordination terms of the securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the subordinated debt securities. We will also state in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior indebtedness.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities being registered in this registration statement, including, for example, shares of our equity securities. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:
| ● | the conversion or exchange price; |
| ● | the conversion or exchange period; |
| ● | provisions regarding the ability of us or the holder to convert or exchange the debt securities; |
| ● | events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; and |
| ● | provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities. |
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
We cannot consolidate or merge with or into, or transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to, any person, and we cannot permit any other person to consolidate with or merge into us, unless (1) we will be the continuing corporation or (2) the successor corporation or person to which our assets are transferred or leased is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and it expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture. In addition, we cannot complete such a transaction unless immediately after completing the transaction, no event of default under the indenture, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under the indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing. When the person to whom our assets are transferred or leased has assumed our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, we shall be discharged from all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture except in limited circumstances.
This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control of us or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control were structured to include a merger or consolidation or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets.
8
Events of Default
The term “Event of Default,” when used in the indenture, unless otherwise indicated, means any of the following:
| ● | failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment is due and payable; |
| ● | failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security when due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise; |
| ● | failure to make sinking fund payments when due; |
| ● | failure to perform other covenants for 60 days after notice that performance was required; |
| ● | events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us; or |
| ● | any other Event of Default provided in the applicable officer’s certificate, resolution of our board of directors or the supplemental indenture under which we issue a series of debt securities. |
An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture.
If an Event of Default with respect to any series of senior debt securities occurs and is continuing, then either the trustee for such series or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, by notice in writing, may declare the principal amount of and interest on all of the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately; provided, however, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if such an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to more than one series of senior debt securities under the indenture, the trustee for such series or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all such series of senior debt securities of equal ranking (or, if any of such senior debt securities are discount securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series), voting as one class, may make such declaration of acceleration as to all series of such equal ranking and not the holders of the debt securities of any one of such series of senior debt securities.
If an Event of Default with respect to any series of subordinated securities occurs and is continuing, then either the trustee for such series or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, by notice in writing, may declare the principal amount of and interest on all of the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately; provided, however, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if such an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to more than one series of subordinated securities under the indenture, the trustee for such series or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all such series of subordinated securities of equal ranking (or, if any of such subordinated securities are discount securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series), voting as one class, may make such declaration of acceleration as to all series of equal ranking and not the holders of the debt securities of any one of such series of subordinated securities. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all affected series of equal ranking may, after satisfying certain conditions, rescind and annul any of the above-described declarations and consequences involving such series.
If an Event of Default relating to events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all of the debt securities outstanding, and any accrued interest, will automatically become due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder.
The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us. Except for actions for payment of overdue principal or interest, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture unless:
| ● | the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of default and continuance of such default; |
| ● | the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series of equal ranking have requested that the trustee institute the action; |
| ● | the requesting holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity for expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action; |
| ● | the trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days of the request; and |
| ● | the trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series of equal ranking. |
We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by one of our officers, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the indenture.
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Registered Global Securities and Book Entry System
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in book-entry form and may be represented by one or more fully registered global securities or in unregistered form with or without coupons. We will deposit any registered global securities with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of such depositary or nominee. In such case, we will issue one or more registered global securities denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the debt securities of the series to be issued and represented by such registered global security or securities. This means that we will not issue certificates to each holder.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole:
| ● | by the depositary for such registered global security to its nominee; |
| ● | by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or |
| ● | by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor. |
The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement involving any portion of the series represented by a registered global security. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for registered debt securities:
| ● | ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for such registered global security, these persons being referred to as “participants,” or persons that may hold interests through participants; |
| ● | upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the registered global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the registered global security beneficially owned by the participants; |
| ● | any dealers, underwriters, or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities represented by a registered global security will designate the accounts to be credited; and |
| ● | ownership of beneficial interest in such registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for such registered global security for interests of participants, and on the records of participants for interests of persons holding through participants. |
The laws of some states may require that specified purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may limit the ability of those persons to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.
So long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such registered global security, the depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as stated below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:
| ● | will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in their names; |
| ● | will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in the definitive form; and |
| ● | will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the relevant indenture. |
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Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of a participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.
We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through the participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
We will make payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owners of the registered global security. None of us, the trustee or any other agent of ours or the trustee will be responsible or liable for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of the registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of the participants.
If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or stops being a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, we will appoint an eligible successor depositary. If we fail to appoint an eligible successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more registered global securities. In that event, we will issue debt securities of the series in a definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global securities representing the debt securities. The trustee will register any debt securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security in the name or names as the depositary, based upon instructions from its participants, shall instruct the trustee.
We may also issue bearer debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global securities, referred to as “bearer global securities.” The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities represented by a bearer global security will describe the applicable terms and procedures. These will include the specific terms of the depositary arrangement and any specific procedures for the issuance of debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a bearer global security, in proportion to the series represented by a bearer global security.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
We can discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as stated below.
We may discharge obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable, or are scheduled for redemption, within sixty (60) days. We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.
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Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities at any time, which we refer to as defeasance. We may also be released from the obligations imposed by any covenants of any outstanding series of debt securities and provisions of the indenture, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an event of default under the trust declaration, which we refer to as covenant defeasance. We may effect defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:
| ● | we irrevocably deposit with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay at maturity, or upon redemption, the principal, premium and interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities of the series; |
| ● | we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm to the effect that the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and that defeasance or covenant defeasance will not otherwise alter the holders’ U.S. federal income tax treatment of principal, premium and interest, if any, payments on the series of debt securities; and |
| ● | in the case of subordinated debt securities, no event or condition shall exist that, based on the subordination provisions applicable to the series, would prevent us from making payments of principal of, premium and interest, if any, on any of the applicable subordinated debt securities at the date of the irrevocable deposit referred to above or at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the deposit date. |
In the case of a defeasance by us, the opinion we deliver must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service issued, or a change in U.S. federal income tax law occurring, after the date of the indenture, since such a result would not occur under the U.S. federal income tax laws in effect on such date.
Although we may discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any series of debt securities, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt securities.
Modification of the Indenture
The indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to:
| ● | secure any debt securities and provide the terms and conditions for the release or substitution of the security; |
| ● | evidence the assumption by a successor corporation of our obligations; |
| ● | add covenants for the protection of the holders of debt securities; |
| ● | add any additional events of default; |
| ● | cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency or defect in the indenture; |
| ● | add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture in a manner that will become effective only when there is no outstanding debt security which is entitled to the benefit of the provision as to which the modification would apply; |
| ● | establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series; |
| ● | eliminate any conflict between the terms of the indenture and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; |
| ● | evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as is necessary for the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee; and |
| ● | make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture that will not be inconsistent with any provision of the indenture as long as the new provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any outstanding debt securities of any series created prior to the modification. |
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The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of all series of senior debt securities or of Subordinated Securities of equal ranking, as the case may be, then outstanding and affected, voting as one class, add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:
| ● | extend the final maturity of any debt security; |
| ● | reduce the principal amount or premium, if any; |
| ● | reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest; |
| ● | reduce any amount payable on redemption or impair or affect any right of redemption at the option of the holder of the debt security; |
| ● | change the currency in which the principal, premium or interest, if any, is payable; |
| ● | reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security issued with an original issue discount that is payable upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy; |
| ● | alter provisions of the relevant indenture relating to the debt securities not denominated in U.S. dollars; |
| ● | impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security when due; |
| ● | if applicable, adversely affect the right of a holder to convert or exchange a debt security; or |
| ● | reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities of any series whose consent is required for any modification of the indenture. |
The indenture provides that the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any and all affected series of equal ranking, by notice to the relevant trustee, may on behalf of the holders of the debt securities of any and all such series of equal ranking waive any default and its consequences under the indenture except:
| ● | a continuing default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or principal of, any such debt security held by a non-consenting holder; or |
| ● | a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of each series affected. |
Concerning the Trustee
The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each for one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under that indenture.
Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only on the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed from one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, premium and interest, if any, on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee for that series at an office designated by the trustee.
If the trustee becomes a creditor of ours, the indenture places limitations on the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any conflicting interest relating to any duties concerning the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.
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The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any and all affected series of debt securities of equal ranking then outstanding will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee concerning the applicable series of debt securities, provided that the direction:
| ● | would not conflict with any rule of law or with the relevant indenture; |
| ● | would not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another holder of the debt securities; and |
| ● | would not involve any trustee in personal liability. |
The indenture provides that in case an Event of Default shall occur, not be cured and be known to any trustee, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would use in the conduct of his or her own affairs in the exercise of the trustee’s power. The trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless they shall have offered to the trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the trustee.
No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any debt security thereunder, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company, 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 of the Company, 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 successor corporation, or any of them.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
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We may issue warrants for the purchase of our Class B Common Stock, preferred stock, or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with our Class B Common Stock, preferred stock, or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or traded separate and apart from these securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a warrant agreement, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet will describe the terms of the warrants offered thereby, any warrant agreement relating to such warrants and the warrant certificates, including but not limited to the following:
| ● | the title of the warrants; |
| ● | the offering price or prices of the warrants, if any; |
| ● | the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time; |
| ● | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| ● | the number of securities, if any, with which such warrants are being offered and the number of such warrants being offered with each security; |
| ● | the date, if any, on and after which such warrants and the related securities, if any, will be transferable separately; |
| ● | the amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of each warrant and the price at which the securities may be purchased upon such exercise, and events or conditions under which the amount of securities may be subject to adjustment; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| ● | the circumstances, if any, which will cause the warrants to be deemed to be automatically exercised; |
| ● | any material risk factors, if any, relating to such warrants; |
| ● | the identity of any warrant agent; and |
| ● | any other material terms of the warrants. |
Prior to the exercise of any warrants, holders of such warrants will not have any rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive payments of dividends or the right to vote such underlying securities. Prospective purchasers of warrants should be aware that material U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable to instruments such as warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
We may issue subscription rights to purchase our Class B Common Stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units consisting of some or all of these securities. These subscription rights may be offered independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
The prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights we offer, if any, will, to the extent applicable, include specific terms relating to the offering, including some or all of the following:
| ● | the price, if any, for the subscription rights; |
| ● | the exercise price payable for our Class B Common Stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units consisting of some or all of these securities upon the exercise of the subscription rights; |
| ● | the number of subscription rights to be issued to each stockholder; |
| ● | the number and terms of our Class B Common Stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units consisting of some or all of these securities which may be purchased per each subscription right; |
| ● | the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable; |
| ● | any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire; |
| ● | the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities or an over-allotment privilege to the extent the securities are fully subscribed; and |
| ● | if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement which may be entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights. |
The descriptions of the subscription rights in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable subscription right agreements. These descriptions do not restate those subscription right agreements in their entirety and may not contain all the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable subscription right agreements because they, and not the summaries, define your rights as holders of the subscription rights. For more information, please review the forms of the relevant subscription right agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of subscription rights and will be available as described in the section of this prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:
| ● | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| ● | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and |
| ● | any additional terms of the governing unit agreement. |
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any units. The preceding description and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the unit agreement and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such units.
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We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus in any one or more of the following ways (or in any combination) from time to time:
| ● | directly to investors, including through privately negotiated transactions, a specific bidding, auction or other process; |
| ● | to investors through agents; |
| ● | directly to agents; |
| ● | to or through underwriters or dealers; |
| ● | in “at the market” offerings, within the meaning of the Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise; |
| ● | through a combination of any such methods of sale; or |
| ● | through any other method permitted by applicable law and described in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
The accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:
| ● | the names and addresses of any underwriters, dealers or agents; |
| ● | the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale, if any; |
| ● | any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; |
| ● | any underwriting discounts and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents; |
| ● | any public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| ● | any securities exchange or market on which the securities offered in the prospectus supplement may be listed. |
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If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the offered securities for their own account and may resell them from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The offered securities may be offered either to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or by one or more underwriters without a syndicate. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any series of securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities if any are purchased. Only those underwriters identified in such prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities offered in the prospectus supplement. Any underwritten offering may be on a best efforts or a firm commitment basis.
In connection with the sale of our 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 our securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” as that term is defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts allowed or commissions paid, and any profit on the resale of the securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any person who may be deemed to be an underwriter will be identified, and the compensation received from us will be described, in the prospectus supplement. Maximum compensation to any underwriters, dealers or agents will not exceed any applicable Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. limitations.
Underwriters and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against some civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contributions with respect to payments which the underwriters or agents may be required to make relating to these liabilities. Underwriters and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
Unless otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement, each series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our Class B Common Stock, which is listed on Nasdaq. Any Class B Common Stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance. We may elect to list any series of debt securities on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, any offered securities.
The aggregate proceeds to us from the sale of our Class B Common Stock will be the purchase price of our Class B Common Stock less discounts or commissions, if any. We reserve the right to accept and, together with our agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of our Class B Common Stock to be made directly or through agents.
To facilitate the offering of the Class B Common Stock offered by us, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our Class B Common Stock. This may include over-allotments or short sales, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more shares than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of our Class B Common Stock by bidding for or purchasing shares in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if shares sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of our Class B Common Stock at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.
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Bevilacqua PLLC has acted as our counsel in connection with the preparation of this prospectus. Certain legal matters as to the United States federal and New York law in connection with any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Bevilacqua PLLC. Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus will be passed upon by Fennemore Craig P.C. If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel to underwriters, dealers or agents, such counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any such offering.
The audited consolidated financial statements of Asset Entities Inc. for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the registration statement of which the prospectus is a part, have been audited by the independent registered public accounting firm WWC, P.C., Certified Public Accountants, as set forth in its report thereon, incorporated by reference elsewhere herein, and are included herein in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC registering the securities that may be offered and sold hereunder. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, the exhibits filed therewith or the documents incorporated by reference therein. For further information about us and the securities offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement, the exhibits filed therewith and the documents incorporated by reference therein. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and in each instance we refer you to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC.
The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the website is www.sec.gov.
Additionally, we make these filings available, free of charge, on our website at https://www.assetentities.com/ as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC. The information on our website, other than these filings, is not, and should not be, considered part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference into this document.
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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference much of the information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus. Because we are incorporating by reference future filings with the SEC, this prospectus is continually updated and those future filings may modify or supersede some of the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any document previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (in each case, other than those documents or the portions of those documents furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K and, except as may be noted in any such Form 8-K, exhibits filed on such form that are related to such information), until the offering of the securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is terminated or completed:
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2024; |
| ● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2024 and April 9, 2024; and |
| ● | the description of the Class B Common Stock contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-41612), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2023, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Asset Entities Inc.
Attn: Secretary
100 Crescent Ct, 7th Floor
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 459-3117.
21
Asset Entities Inc.
$100,000,000
Class B Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Units
PROSPECTUS
_______, 2024
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth estimated fees and expenses (except in the case of the SEC registration fee) in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered.
| Amount to be Paid | ||||
| SEC registration fee | $ | 14,760.00 | ||
| Stock exchange listing fee | * | |||
| Printing and engraving expenses | * | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses | * | |||
| Legal fees and expenses | * | |||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses | * | |||
| Trustee’s fees and expenses | * | |||
| Miscellaneous | * | |||
| Total | $ | * | ||
| * | These fees and expenses are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The Registrant is a Nevada corporation. The Registrant’s articles of incorporation and bylaws provide for indemnification of the Registrant’s officers and directors against liabilities that they may incur acting as an officer or director to the fullest extent not prohibited by Nevada law. A summary of the circumstances for which such indemnification is provided is set forth below, but this description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registrant’s articles of incorporation and bylaws and to the statutory provisions.
Discretionary indemnification of officers and directors is covered by Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”). Section 78.7502(1) of the NRS provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (except an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person: (i) is not liable for a breach of fiduciary duties that involved intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law; or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
NRS Section 78.7502(2) further provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if such person: (i) is not liable for a breach of fiduciary duties that involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law; or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. Indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such a person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.
NRS Section 78.751 provides that to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (1) and (2) of NRS Section 78.7502, as described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation shall indemnify such person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense.
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The Registrant’s bylaws provide that the Registrant will advance expenses incurred by any director or officer in connection with a proceeding as provided by Nevada law. NRS Section 78.751 provides that a corporation may advance expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending an action upon delivery of an undertaking by such person to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses. The Registrant’s bylaws provide that notwithstanding the forgoing, no advance shall be made by Registrant if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (a) by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the proceeding, even if not a quorum, or (b) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (c) if there are no such directors, or such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that the facts known to the decision-making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant. The Registrant’s bylaws also provide that the Registrant shall not be required to indemnify any director or officer in connection with any proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless (a) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (b) the proceeding was authorized by the board of directors of the corporation, (c) such indemnification is provided by the corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the corporation under the NRS or any other applicable law or (d) such indemnification is required to be made pursuant to the provisions of the bylaws providing for enforcement of indemnification rights under the bylaws.
The circumstances under which indemnification is granted in connection with an action brought on the Registrant’s behalf is generally the same as those set forth above except that indemnification shall not be made for any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of any appeals taken therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.
Indemnification may also be granted pursuant to the terms of agreements which may be entered in the future or pursuant to a vote of stockholders or directors. The NRS also grant the Registrant the power to purchase and maintain insurance which protects the Registrant’s directors, officers, employees and agents against any liabilities incurred in connection with their service in such a position, and such a policy may be obtained by the Registrant.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Registrant’s articles of incorporation eliminate or limit the liability of the Registrant’s directors and officers to the Registrant or the Registrant’s stockholders for monetary damages for breach of an officer or director’s fiduciary duty as an officer or director. NRS Section 138(7) generally provides that a director or officer is not liable to a corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages that result from an act or failure to act unless (a) it is proven that such actions or failure was not in good faith, on an informed basis and with a view to the interests of the corporation and (b) the act or failure to act involved intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law.
The Registrant has entered into separate indemnification agreements with the Registrant’s directors and officers. Each indemnification agreement provides, among other things, for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law and the Registrant’s articles of incorporation and bylaws against any and all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of any claim. The indemnification agreements provide for the advancement or payment of all expenses to the indemnitee and for reimbursement to the Registrant if it is found that such indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification under applicable law and the Registrant’s articles of incorporation and bylaws.
The Registrant has obtained standard policies of insurance under which coverage is provided (a) to the Registrant’s directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, and (b) to the Registrant with respect to payments which the Registrant may make to such directors and officers pursuant to the above indemnification provision or otherwise as a matter of law.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant under the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
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Item 16. Exhibits.
| (a) | Exhibits. |
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement | |
| 3.1 | Articles of Incorporation of Asset Entities Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on September 2, 2022) | |
| 3.2 | Bylaws of Asset Entities Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on September 2, 2022) | |
| 4.1 | Form of Indenture relating to debt securities | |
| 4.2* | Form of Warrant Agreement | |
| 4.3* | Form of Subscription Rights Agreement | |
| 4.4* | Form of Unit Agreement | |
| 4.5* | Certificate of Designations | |
| 5.1 | Legal Opinion of Bevilacqua PLLC | |
| 5.2 | Legal Opinion of Fennemore Craig P.C. | |
| 23.1 | Consent of WWC, Professional Corporation | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Bevilacqua PLLC (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
| 23.3 | Consent of Fennemore Craig P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.2) | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereof) | |
| 25.1** | Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on Form T-1 | |
| 107 | Filing Fee Table |
| * | To be filed, if applicable, as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a report of the registrant filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| ** | To be filed separately pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, if applicable. |
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, as amended (the “Securities Act”);
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (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 the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) 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, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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(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.
(4) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) 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 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 part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) that, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(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.
(6) that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(7) to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Dallas, State of Texas, on April 16, 2024.
| Asset Entities Inc. |
| By: | /s/ Arshia Sarkhani | |
| Arshia Sarkhani | ||
| Chief Executive Officer and President |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Arshia Sarkhani and Matthew Krueger as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including pre- and post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, any subsequent registration statement for the same offering which may be filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and pre- or post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the foregoing, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their 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 by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||
| /s/ Arshia Sarkhani | Chief Executive Officer, President and Director | April 16, 2024 | ||
| Arshia Sarkhani | (principal executive officer) | |||
| /s/ Matthew Krueger | Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary | April 16, 2024 | ||
| Matthew Krueger | (principal financial and accounting officer) | |||
| /s/ Michael Gaubert | Executive Chairman and Director | April 16, 2024 | ||
| Michael Gaubert | ||||
| /s/ Kyle Fairbanks | Executive Vice-Chairman, | April 16, 2024 | ||
| Kyle Fairbanks | Chief Marketing Officer and Director | |||
| /s/ Richard A. Burton | Director | April 16, 2024 | ||
| Richard A. Burton | ||||
| /s/ John A. Jack II | Director | April 16, 2024 | ||
| John A. Jack II | ||||
| /s/ Scott K. McDonald | Director | April 16, 2024 | ||
| Scott K. McDonald | ||||
| /s/ Brian Regli | Director | April 16, 2024 | ||
| Brian Regli |
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Exhibit 4.1
ASSET ENTITIES INC.
TO
[ ]
Trustee
Indenture
Dated as of __, 20__
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
| ARTICLE I | ||
| DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION | ||
| Section 101. | Definitions | 1 |
| Section 102. | Compliance Certificates and Opinions | 7 |
| Section 103. | Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee | 7 |
| Section 104. | Acts of Holders | 8 |
| Section 105. | Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company | 9 |
| Section 106. | Notice to Holders; Waiver | 9 |
| Section 107. | Conflict With Trust Indenture Act | 9 |
| Section 108. | Effect of Headings and Table of Contents | 9 |
| Section 109. | Successors and Assigns | 10 |
| Section 110. | Separability Clause | 10 |
| Section 111. | Benefits of Indenture | 10 |
| Section 112. | Governing Law | 10 |
| Section 113. | Legal Holidays | 10 |
| Section 114. | Rules by Trustee and Agents | 10 |
| Section 115. | No Recourse Against Others | 10 |
| ARTICLE II | ||
| SECURITY FORMS | ||
| Section 201. | Forms Generally | 10 |
| Section 202. | Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication | 11 |
| ARTICLE III | ||
| THE SECURITIES | ||
| Section 301. | Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series | 11 |
| Section 302. | Denominations | 15 |
| Section 303. | Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating | 15 |
| Section 304. | Temporary Securities | 16 |
| Section 305. | Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange | 17 |
| Section 306. | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 18 |
| Section 307. | Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved | 18 |
| Section 308. | Persons Deemed Owners | 19 |
| Section 309. | Cancellation | 20 |
| Section 310. | Computation of Interest | 20 |
| Section 311. | Global Securities; Exchanges; Registration and Registration of Transfer | 20 |
| Section 312. | Extension of Interest Payment | 21 |
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| ARTICLE IV | ||
| SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | ||
| Section 401. | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 21 |
| Section 402. | Application of Trust Money | 22 |
| Section 403. | Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Securities of Any Series | 23 |
| ARTICLE V | ||
| REMEDIES | ||
| Section 501. | Events of Default | 24 |
| Section 502. | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 25 |
| Section 503. | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 26 |
| Section 504. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 26 |
| Section 505. | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons | 27 |
| Section 506. | Application of Money Collected | 27 |
| Section 507. | Limitation on Suits | 27 |
| Section 508. | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest | 28 |
| Section 509. | Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 28 |
| Section 510. | Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 28 |
| Section 511. | Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 28 |
| Section 512. | Control by Holders | 28 |
| Section 513. | Waiver of Past Defaults | 29 |
| Section 514. | Undertaking for Costs | 29 |
| Section 515. | Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws | 29 |
| ARTICLE VI | ||
| THE TRUSTEE | ||
| Section 601. | Certain Duties and Responsibilities | 29 |
| Section 602. | Notice of Defaults | 30 |
| Section 603. | Certain Rights of Trustee | 31 |
| Section 604. | Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities | 31 |
| Section 605. | May Hold Securities | 31 |
| Section 606. | Money Held in Trust | 32 |
| Section 607. | Compensation and Reimbursement | 32 |
| Section 608. | Disqualification; Conflicting Interests | 32 |
| Section 609. | Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility | 32 |
| Section 610. | Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor | 33 |
| Section 611. | Acceptance of Appointment by Successor | 34 |
| Section 612. | Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business | 34 |
| Section 613. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 35 |
| Section 614. | Appointment of Authenticating Agent | 35 |
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| ARTICLE VII | ||
| HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY | ||
| Section 701. | Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders | 36 |
| Section 702. | Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders | 37 |
| Section 703. | Reports by Trustee | 38 |
| Section 704. | Reports by Company | 38 |
| ARTICLE VIII | ||
| CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER | ||
| Section 801. | Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms | 39 |
| Section 802. | Successor Corporation Substituted | 39 |
| ARTICLE IX | ||
| SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | ||
| Section 901. | Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders | 40 |
| Section 902. | Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders | 41 |
| Section 903. | Execution of Supplemental Indentures | 42 |
| Section 904. | Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 42 |
| Section 905. | Conformity With Trust Indenture Act | 43 |
| Section 906. | Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures | 43 |
| Section 907. | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 43 |
| Section 908. | Modification Without Supplemental Indenture | 43 |
| ARTICLE X | ||
| COVENANTS | ||
| Section 1001. | Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 44 |
| Section 1002. | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 44 |
| Section 1003. | Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust | 45 |
| Section 1004. | Corporate Existence | 46 |
| Section 1005. | Defeasance of Certain Obligations | 46 |
| Section 1006. | Statement by Officers as to Default | 47 |
| Section 1007. | Waiver of Certain Covenants | 47 |
| Section 1008. | Maintenance of Properties | 48 |
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| ARTICLE XI | ||
| REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES | ||
| Section 1101. | Applicability of Article | 48 |
| Section 1102. | Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee | 48 |
| Section 1103. | Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed | 48 |
| Section 1104. | Notice of Redemption | 49 |
| Section 1105. | Securities Payable on Redemption Date | 50 |
| Section 1106. | Securities Redeemed in Part | 50 |
| ARTICLE XII | ||
| SINKING FUNDS | ||
| Section 1201. | Applicability of Article | 50 |
| Section 1202. | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments With Securities | 50 |
| Section 1203. | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 51 |
| ARTICLE XIII | ||
| REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS | ||
| Section 1301. | Applicability of Article | 51 |
| Section 1302. | Notice of Repayment Date | 51 |
| Section 1303. | Securities Payable on Repayment Date | 52 |
| Section 1304. | Securities Repaid in Part | 52 |
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INDENTURE, dated as of [ ], 20__, between Asset Entities Inc., a company organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nevada (herein called the “Company”), and [ ] (herein called the “Trustee”).
Recitals Of The Company
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (each herein called a “Security” or collectively the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 101. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires;
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the date of such computation or, at the election of the Company from time to time, at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture;
(4) the word “or” is not exclusive; and
(5) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
Certain terms, used principally in Article VI, are defined in that Article.
“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
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“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.
“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper of general circulation, in an official language of the country of publication or in the English language, customarily published on a daily basis (including newspapers published on a daily basis except not published on Legal Holidays, as defined in Section 113) in such country. Whenever successive weekly publications in an Authorized Newspaper are required hereunder, they may be made (unless otherwise expressly provided herein) on the same or different days of the week and in the same or different Authorized Newspapers.
“Authorized Officer” means the Executive Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any other officer or agent of the Company duly authorized by the Board of Directors to act in respect of matters relating to this Indenture.
“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or director of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location specified in the Securities or this Indenture, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment such other location, or the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located, are authorized or obligated by law to close, except as may be otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.
“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered and, with respect to [ ], shall be located in [ ].
“Corporation” includes corporations, associations, joint stock companies, limited liability companies and business trusts.
“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.
“Depository” means, with respect to any series of Securities issuable or issued in the form of a Global Security, an entity named as such in the Indenture, or, if no entity is so named, an entity, if any, named by the Company as such by Board Resolution, or its successor. The Depository is the entity which holds a Global Security, if any, and operates the computerized book-entry system through which ownership interests in the Securities are recorded. Such entity shall at all times be a registered clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in good standing thereunder or, in the case of an entity that holds a Global Security issued outside of the United States, such entity shall at all times be in compliance with any applicable registration requirements and in good standing under application regulations.
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“Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
“Eligible Obligations” means:
(a) with respect to Securities denominated in Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations; or
(b) with respect to Securities denominated in a currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency, such other obligations or instruments as shall be specified with respect to such Securities, as contemplated by Section 301(24).
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.
“Global Security” means a Security, if any, issued to evidence all or a part of a series of Securities in accordance with Section 301.
“Holder” means the bearer of an Unregistered Security or coupon appertaining thereto or a Person in whose name a Registered Security is registered in the Security Register or the Person who is the record owner of any ownership interests in a Global Security.
“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 pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.
“Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.
“Interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.
“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
“Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, upon call for redemption, exercise of repayment option or otherwise.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of, or counsel for, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.
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“Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(a) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Securities or portions thereof for whose payment or redemption (a) money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities or (b) Eligible Obligations as contemplated by Sections 401 and 403 in the necessary amount have been theretofore deposited with the Trustee, in trust, for the Holders of such Securities (whether or not the Company’s indebtedness in respect thereof shall be satisfied and discharged for purposes of this Indenture or otherwise), provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and
(c) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it and the Company that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
(w) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor (unless the Company, such Affiliate or such obligor owns (i) all Securities Outstanding under this Indenture or (ii) except for the purposes of actions to be taken by Holders of more than one series or Tranche voting as a class, all Outstanding Securities of each such series and each such Tranche, as the case may be, determined without regard to this clause) shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor;
(x) in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities of any series or Tranche have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, the principal amount of Original Issue Discount Securities that shall be deemed to be outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;
(y) in the case of any Security the principal of which is payable from time to time without presentment or surrender, the principal amount of such Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding at any time for all purposes of this Indenture shall be the original principal amount thereof less the aggregate amount of principal thereof theretofore paid; and
(z) the principal amount of any Security which is denominated in a currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of Dollars that could have been purchased by the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent on the date determined as set forth below of the amount determined as provided in (x) above) of such currency or composite currency evidenced by such Security, in each such case certified to the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate based (i) on the average of the mean of the buying and selling spot rates quoted by three banks which are members of the New York Clearing House Association selected by the Company in effect at 11:00 A.M. (New York time) in The City of New York on the fifteenth Business Day preceding any such determination or (ii) if on such fifteenth Business Day it is not possible or practicable to obtain such quotations from such three banks, on such other quotations or alternative methods of determination that shall be as consistent as practicable with the method set forth in (i) above.
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“Paying Agent” means any Person, including the Company, authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.
“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time any or all of the specific terms of which Securities, including without limitation the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the Stated Maturity or Maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents from time to time subsequent to the initial request for the authentication and delivery of such Securities by the Trustee, all as contemplated in Section 301 and clause (2) of Section 303.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of that series or Tranche are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301.
“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security, and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
“Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to Section 301 of this Indenture.
“Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture, exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest, if any.
“Registered Security” means any Security issued hereunder and registered by the Security Registrar or any recorded interest in a Global Security issued hereunder.
“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.
“Repayment Date”, when used with respect to any Security of any series to be repaid or repurchased, means the date, if any, fixed for such repayment or for such repurchase (whether at the option of the Holders or otherwise) pursuant to Section 301 of this Indenture.
“Repayment Price”, when used with respect to any Security of any series to be repaid, means the price, if any, at which it is to be repaid pursuant to Section 301.
“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department or any other successor group of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Security” or “Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Security or Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.
“Senior Securities” means Securities other than Subordinated Securities.
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“series” or “series of Securities” means a series of Securities issued under this Indenture as determined by Board Resolution or as otherwise determined under this Indenture, and except as otherwise provided in Section 608.
“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
“Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
“Subordinated Securities” means Securities that by the terms established pursuant to Section 301(10) are subordinate to any specified debt of the Company.
“Subsidiary” means (i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding total voting stock 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 the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries or (ii) any partnership the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or the only general partners of which are the Company or of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company (or any combination thereof). For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means, in the case of a corporation, stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of capital stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency, in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited), and any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
“Tranche” means a group of Securities which (a) are of the same series and (b) have identical terms except as to principal amount or date of issuance.
“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have been appointed with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 905.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means (a) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States and the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by the United States and (b) certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which evidence a direct ownership interest in obligations described in clause (a) above or in any specific interest or principal payments due in respect thereof; provided, however, that the custodian of such obligations or specific interest or principal payments shall be a bank or trust company (which may include the Trustee or any Paying Agent) subject to federal or state supervision or examination with a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000; and provided, further, that except as may be otherwise required by law, such custodian shall be obligated to pay to the holders of such certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments the full amount received by such custodian in respect of such obligations or specific payments and shall not be permitted to make any deduction therefrom.
“U.S. Person” means a citizen, national or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, or an estate or trust whose income from sources without the United States is includible in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes regardless of its connection with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
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“Unregistered Security” means any Security issued hereunder which is not a Registered Security.
“Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.
“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, calculated by the Company at the time of issuance of a series of Securities or, if applicable, at the most recent determination of interest on such series in accordance with accepted financial practice.
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall, if requested by the Trustee, furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, 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, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than certificates provided pursuant to Section 704(4)) shall include:
(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel. Any such Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
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Section 104. Acts of Holders. (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of Unregistered Securities, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(c) The amount of Unregistered Securities held by any Person executing any such instrument or writings as the Holder thereof, and the numbers of such Unregistered Securities, and the date of his holding the same, may be proved by the production of such Unregistered Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust company, bank, banker or member of a national securities exchange (wherever situated), if such certificate is in form satisfactory to the Trustee, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Unregistered Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person executing such instrument or writing as the Holder thereof, if such certificate or affidavit is in form satisfactory to the Trustee. The Trustee and the Company may assume that such ownership of any Unregistered Securities continues until (1) another certificate bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Unregistered Securities is produced, or (2) such Unregistered Securities are produced by some other Person, or (3) such Unregistered Securities are registered as to principal or are surrendered in exchange for Unregistered Securities, or (4) such Unregistered Securities are no longer Outstanding.
(d) The fact and date of execution of any such instrument or writing and the amount and number of Unregistered Securities held by the Person so executing such instrument or writing may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.
(e) The principal amount (except as otherwise contemplated in clause (x) of the proviso to the definition of “Outstanding”) and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.
(f) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.
(g) The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of any Securities of any series entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted by Section 512 or 513. Such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders of such Securities furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 701 prior to such solicitation.
(h) If the Company solicits from Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, 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 Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of the record date.
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Section 105. Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company. Except as otherwise provided herein, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,
(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: [ ], [ ], or
(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event or reports to Holders, such notice or report shall be sufficiently given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register and to addresses filed with the Trustee or preserved on the Trustee’s list pursuant to Section 702(a) for other Holders (and to such other addressees as may be required in the case of such notice or report under Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act), not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice or report.
In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.
Notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Unregistered Securities if published in an Authorized Newspaper in each of The City of New York and, if such Securities are listed on any stock exchange outside of the United States, in the city in which such stock exchange is located, or in such other city or cities as may be specified in the Securities, once in each of two different calendar weeks, the first publication to be not earlier than the earliest date, and not later than the last date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause is impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification that is made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
If it is impractical in the opinion of the Trustee or the Company to make any publication of any notice required hereby in an Authorized Newspaper, any publication or other notice in lieu thereof that is made or given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice.
Section 107. Conflict With Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by operation of subsection (c) of Section 318 of the Trust Indenture Act, the imposed duties shall control.
Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
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Section 109. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 110. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 111. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto (including any Paying Agent appointed pursuant to Section 1002 and Authenticating Agent appointed pursuant to Section 614 to the extent provided herein) and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
Section 112. Governing Law. This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Section 113. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Stated Maturity of any Security is not a Business Day at any Place of Payment or the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities other than a provision in Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, or in the Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate that establishes the terms of such Securities or Tranche, that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, Repayment Date, or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue with respect to such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.
Section 114. Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders of one or more series. The Paying Agent or Security Registrar may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 115. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, stockholder or employee, as such, of the Company or any successor corporation shall have any liability for any obligation of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.
ARTICLE II
SECURITY FORMS
Section 201. Forms Generally. The Securities of each series and related coupons, if any, shall be in substantially the form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. When the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.
If required or appropriate under applicable law, Unregistered Securities and their coupons must have the following statement on their face: “Any United States person who holds this obligation will be subject to limitations under the United States income tax laws, including the limitations provided in Sections 165(j) and 1287(a) of the Internal Revenue Code”. If required or appropriate under applicable law, Unregistered Securities and their coupons must have the following statement on their face: “By accepting this obligation, the Holder represents and warrants that it is not a U.S. Person (other than an exempt recipient described in section 6049(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder) and that it is not acting for or on behalf of a U.S. Person (other than an exempt recipient described in section 6049(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder).”
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The definitive Securities shall be produced in such manner or combination of manners, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
Section 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein, referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| [ ] | |
| as Trustee |
| By | ||
| Authorized Officer |
ARTICLE III
THE SECURITIES
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There may be Registered Securities and Unregistered Securities within a series. Registered and Unregistered Securities may be in temporary or permanent global form. Unregistered Securities may be issued with or without coupons attached. Unregistered Securities may be subject to such restrictions, and contain such legends, as may be required by United States laws and regulations. Subject to the last paragraph of this Section, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the 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 the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1305 and except for any Securities that, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);
(3) the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the securities will be issued and the date or dates on which the principal (and premium, if any) of the Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, is payable;
(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, is payable or any formula or other method or other means by which such date or dates shall be determined, by reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this Indenture or otherwise (without regard to any provisions for redemption, prepayment, acceleration, purchase or extension);
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(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, shall bear interest, if any (including the rate or rates at which overdue principal shall bear interest, if different from the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest prior to Maturity, and, if applicable, the rate or rates at which overdue premium or interest shall bear interest, if any), or any formula or other method or other means by which such rate or rates shall be determined, by reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this Indenture or otherwise; the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue; the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on such Securities on any Interest Payment Date; the right of the Company, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such extension as contemplated by Section 312; and the basis of computation of interest, if other than as provided in Section 310;
(6) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, any Registered Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, and this Indenture may be served and notices to Holders pursuant to Section 106 will be published; the Security Registrar and any Paying Agent or Agents for such series or Tranche; and if such is the case, that the principal of such Securities shall be payable without presentment or surrender thereof;
(7) if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(9) the obligation, if any, of the Company to offer to repay or repurchase Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, in circumstances described therein, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be repaid or repurchased, in whole or in part, at the option of the Holders;
(10) the terms, if any, on which the Securities of such series will be subordinate in right and priority of payment to other debt of the Company;
(11) the right, if any, of the Company to execute and deliver to the Trustee, and to direct the Trustee to authenticate and deliver in accordance with a Company Order, a Security of any series, or any Tranche thereof, in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, cancelled upon redemption or repayment;
(12) the denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the denomination or denominations in which any Unregistered Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be issuable, if other than the denomination of $5,000;
(13) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;
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(14) whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, Unregistered Securities, or both, whether Securities of the series are to be issuable with or without coupons, whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form (and, if so, the identity of the depositary for such Securities) and the circumstances under which such Securities in temporary global form may be exchanged for definitive Securities, and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form (and, if so, the identity of the depositary for such Securities) with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent Global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 311;
(15) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on the Securities of that series held by a person who is not a U.S. Person in respect of taxes or similar charges withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such additional amounts;
(16) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable (if other than the currency of the United States of America) and the formula or other method or other means by which the equivalent of any such amount in Dollars is to be determined for any purpose, including for the purpose of determining the principal amount of such Securities deemed to be Outstanding at any time;
(17) if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;
(18) if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, are to be payable, or are to be payable at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in securities or other property, the type and amount of such securities or other property, or the formula or other method or other means by which such amount shall be determined, and the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, any such election may be made;
(19) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this Indenture, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined to the extent not established pursuant to paragraph (5) of this Section;
(20) the form or forms of the Securities, including such legends as may be required by United States laws or regulations, the form of any coupons or temporary Global Security, if any, which may be issued and the forms of any certificates which may be required hereunder or under United States laws or regulations in connection with the offering, sale, delivery or exchange of Unregistered Securities, if any;
(21) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, and the manner in which, or the Person to whom, any interest on any Unregistered Security of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they severally mature, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary or permanent Global Security on an interest payment date will be paid;
(22) any Events of Default, in addition to those specified in Section 501, with respect to the Securities of such series, and any covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, in addition to those set forth in Article X;
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(23) the terms, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, may be converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company or any other Person;
(24) the obligations or instruments, if any, that shall be considered to be Eligible Obligations in respect of the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, denominated in a currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency, and any additional or alternative provisions for the reinstatement of the Company’s indebtedness in respect of such Securities after the satisfaction and discharge thereof as provided in Section 401;
(25) any exceptions to Section 113, or variation in the definition of Business Day, with respect to the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof;
(26) any collateral security, assurance or guarantee for the Securities of such series;
(27) the non-applicability of Section 608 to the Securities of such series or any exceptions or modifications of Section 608 with respect to the Securities of such series;
(28) any rights or duties of another Person to assume the obligations of the Company with respect to the Securities of such series (whether as joint obligor, primary obligor, secondary obligor or substitute obligor) and any rights or duties to discharge and release any obligor with respect to the Securities of such series or this Indenture to the extent related to such series;
(29) if a service charge will be made for the registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, the amount or terms thereof; and
(30) any other terms, conditions and rights of the series (which terms, conditions and rights shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(5)).
All Securities of any one series and the coupons appertaining to any Unregistered Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except in the case of Registered Securities as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officer’s Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto and as reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Securities of different series may differ in any respect.
If the terms and form or forms of any series of Securities are established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Company shall deliver a copy of such Board Resolution to the Trustee at or prior to the issuance of such series with (1) the form or forms of Security that have been approved attached thereto, or (2) if such Board Resolution authorizes a specific officer or officers to approve the terms and form or forms of the Securities, a certificate of such officer or officers approving the terms and form or forms of Security with such form or forms of Securities attached thereto. Such Board Resolution or certificate may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of any series and may provide that the specific terms of particular Securities of a series may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to the Company Order referred to in Section 303 hereof.
With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, the indenture supplemental hereto or the Board Resolution that establishes such series, or the Officer’s Certificate pursuant to such supplemental indenture or Board Resolution, as the case may be, may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company or its agents in accordance with procedures specified in a Company Order as contemplated by the third paragraph of Section 303.
Unless otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities pursuant to paragraph (2) of this Section, any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of a series of Securities may be increased without the consent of any Holders and additional Securities of such series may be authenticated and delivered up to the limit upon the aggregate principal amount authorized with respect to such series as so increased.
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Section 302. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered or unregistered form with or without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and the Unregistered Securities of the series shall be issuable in denominations of $5,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Senior Vice President, Finance, or its Treasurer, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. The coupons, if any, of Unregistered Securities shall bear the manual or facsimile signature of any one of the officers or assistant officers referred to in the first sentence of this Section.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities provided, however, that, with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (a) such Company Order may be delivered by the Company to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication and delivery, (b) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount established for such series, all pursuant to a Company Order or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by a Company Order, (c) the maturity date or dates, original issue date or dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by Company Order or pursuant to such procedures and (d) if provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.
In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:
(a) that such form of Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(b) that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and
(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equity principles.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraphs, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraphs at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.
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If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issuance of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication and each Unregistered Security shall be dated the date of its original issuance.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature and no coupon shall be valid until the Security to which it appertains has been so authenticated, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, until the Company has delivered an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee and the Security Registrar stating that, as a result of the action described, the Company would not suffer adverse consequences under the provisions of United States law or regulations in effect at the time of the delivery of Unregistered Securities, the Trustee or the Security Registrar will (i) deliver Unregistered Securities only outside the United States and its possessions and (ii) release Unregistered Securities in definitive form to the person entitled to physical delivery thereof only upon presentation of a certificate in the form prescribed by the Company.
Section 304. Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Registered Securities of any series (including Global Securities), the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Registered Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Registered Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Every temporary Registered Security shall be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee, and registered by the Security Registrar, upon the same conditions, and with like effect, as a definitive Registered Security.
If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Registered Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Registered Securities of such series, the temporary Registered Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Registered Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Registered Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Registered Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Registered Securities of the same series of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Registered Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Registered Securities of such series.
Until definitive Unregistered Securities of any series (including Global Securities) are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and execute and the Trustee shall authenticate one or more temporary Unregistered Securities, which may have coupons attached or which may be in the form of one or more temporary Global Unregistered Securities of that series without coupons. The temporary Unregistered Security or Securities of any series shall be substantially in the form approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and shall be delivered to one of the Paying Agents located outside the United States and its possessions or to such other person or persons as the Company shall direct against such certification as the Company may from time to time prescribe by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. The temporary Unregistered Security or Securities of a series shall be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions, and with like effect, as a definitive Unregistered Security of such series, except as provided herein or in the Board Resolution or supplemental Indenture relating thereto. A temporary Unregistered Security or Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Unregistered Securities at the time and on the conditions, if any, specified in the temporary Security.
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Upon any exchange of a part of a temporary Unregistered Security of a series for definitive Unregistered Securities of such series, the temporary Unregistered Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee or Paying Agent to reflect the reduction of its principal amount by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the definitive Unregistered Securities of such series so exchanged and endorsed.
Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.
Except in the case of Securities issued in the form of a Global Security, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.
If both Registered and Unregistered Securities are authorized for a series of Securities and the terms of such Securities permit, (i) Unregistered Securities may be exchanged for an equal principal amount of Registered or Unregistered Securities of the same series and date of maturity in any authorized denominations upon delivery to the Security Registrar (or a Paying Agent (as herein defined), if the exchange is for Unregistered Securities) of the Unregistered Security with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default appertaining thereto and if all other requirements of the Security Registrar (or such Paying Agent) and such Securities for such exchange are met, and (ii) Registered Securities, other than Securities issued in the form of a Global Security (except as provided in Section 311), may be exchanged for an equal principal amount of Unregistered Securities of the same series and date of maturity in any authorized denominations (except that any coupons appertaining to such Unregistered Securities which have matured and have been paid shall be detached) upon delivery to the Security Registrar of the Registered Securities and if all other requirements of the Security Registrar and such Securities for such exchange are met.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exchange of Unregistered Securities for Registered Securities or Registered Securities for Unregistered Securities will be subject to the satisfaction of the provisions of United States law and regulations in effect at the time of such exchange, and no exchange of Registered Securities for Unregistered Securities will be made until the Company has notified the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate and the Security Registrar that, as a result of such exchange, the Company would not suffer adverse consequences under such law or regulations.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
Unless otherwise provided in a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution, or in an indenture supplemental hereto, with respect to Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, no service charge shall be made to the Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1106 not involving any transfer.
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The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part. Unregistered Securities or any coupons appertaining thereto shall be transferable by delivery thereof.
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon or coupons appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a replacement Registered Security, if such surrendered security was a Registered Security, or a replacement Unregistered Security with coupons corresponding to the coupons appertaining to the surrendered Security, if such surrendered Security was an Unregistered Security, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto, and (ii) such bond, security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of actual notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a replacement Registered Security, if such Holder’s claim pertains to a Registered Security, or a replacement Unregistered Security with coupons corresponding to the coupons appertaining to the destroyed, lost or stolen Unregistered Security or the Unregistered Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon or coupons appertains, if such Holder’s claim pertains to an Unregistered Security, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto is at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto of that series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto.
Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, interest on any Registered Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Registered Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. In case an Unregistered Security of any series is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business (at an office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for such series) on any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business (at such office or agency) on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, such Unregistered Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Unregistered Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with provisions of this Indenture.
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Any interest on any Registered Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:
(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at the address of such Holder 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 so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2). In case an Unregistered Security of any series is surrendered at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business at such office or agency on any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Unregistered Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such proposed date of payment and Defaulted Interest will not be payable on such proposed date of payment in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Unregistered Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Registered Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Registered Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Registered Security.
Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1002, the Holder of any coupon appertaining to an Unregistered Security shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such coupon upon presentation and surrender of such coupon on or after the Interest Payment Date of such coupon at an office or agency maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002.
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 301 and Section 307) interest, if any, on such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
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Ownership of Registered Securities of a series shall be proved by the computerized book-entry system of the Depository in the case of Registered Securities issued in the form of a Global Security. Ownership of Unregistered Securities may be proved by the production of such Unregistered Securities or by a certificate or affidavit executed by the person holding such Unregistered Securities or by a depository with whom such Unregistered Securities were deposited, if the certificate or affidavit is satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company may treat the bearer of any Unregistered Security or coupon and the person in whose name a Registered Security is registered as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes.
None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Section 309. Cancellation. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, all Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not theretofore cancelled, shall be promptly cancelled by it. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, the Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities or coupons previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever or that the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities or coupons so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities or coupons cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities or coupons held by the Trustee shall be destroyed and the Trustee shall furnish an affidavit to the Company (setting forth the serial numbers of such Securities) attesting to such destruction unless by a Company Order the Company shall direct that the cancelled Securities or coupons be returned to it.
Section 310. Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a year of twelve 30-day months.
Section 311. Global Securities; Exchanges; Registration and Registration of Transfer. If specified as contemplated by Section 301, the Securities may be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, which shall be deposited with the Depository, and, unless otherwise specified in the form of Global Security adopted pursuant to Section 301, be registered in the name of the Depository’s nominee.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent Global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If the beneficial owners of interests in a permanent Global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for Securities of such series of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of that series in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such permanent Global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent Global Security shall be surrendered from time to time in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depository (which instructions shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) by the Depository or such other depository as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent Global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent Global Security to be exchanged which, unless the Securities of the series are not issuable both as Unregistered Securities and as Registered Securities, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, shall be in the form of Unregistered Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during the periods specified by Section 305; and provided, further, that no Unregistered Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a permanent Global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States unless the Company has complied with the fourth paragraph of Section 305. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such permanent Global Security shall be returned by the Trustee, to the Depository or such other depository referred to above, in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above.
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The Global Security may be transferred to another nominee of the Depository, or to a successor Depository selected by the Company, and upon surrender for registration of transfer of the Global Security to the Trustee, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, a new Global Security in the same aggregate principal amount. If at any time the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository and a successor Depository satisfactory to the Company is not appointed within 90 days after the Company receives such notice, the Company will execute, and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver, Securities in definitive form to the Depository in exchange for the Global Security. In addition, if at any time the Company determines that it is not in the best interest of the Company or the beneficial owners of Securities to continue to have a Global Security representing all of the Securities held by a Depository, the Company may, at its option, execute, and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver, Securities in definitive form to the Depository in exchange for all or a portion of the Global Security. Promptly after any such exchange of Securities in definitive form for all or a portion of the Global Security pursuant to this paragraph, the Company shall promulgate regulations governing registration of transfers and exchanges of Securities in definitive form, which regulations shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and shall thereafter bind every Holder of such Securities.
Section 312. Extension of Interest Payment. The Company shall have the right at any time, so long as the Company is not in default in the payment of interest on the Securities of any series hereunder, to extend interest payment periods on all Securities of one or more series, if so specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to such Securities and upon such terms as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to such Securities. If the Company ever so extends any such interest payment period, the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee.
ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. (a) This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(1) either
(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities that are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 403) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(i) have become due and payable, or
(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(iii) are to be called for redemption pursuant to Article XI hereof under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or
(iv) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 403, as applicable,
and the Company, in the case of clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount of (a) money, or (b) (I) Eligible Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide on or before the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, money in an amount, or (II) a combination of money or Eligible Obligations as provided in clause (I) above, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
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(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been met.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money or Eligible Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section or if money or Eligible Obligations shall have been deposited with or received by the Trustee pursuant to Section 403, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.
(b) Upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as provided in this Section 401, the Trustee shall assign, transfer and turn over to the Company, subject to the lien provided by Section 607, any and all money, securities and other property then held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities other than money and Eligible Obligations held by the Trustee pursuant to Section 402.
Section 402. Application of Trust Money. (a) Neither the Eligible Obligations nor the money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 403(e), nor the principal or interest payments on any such Eligible Obligations, shall be withdrawn or used for any purpose other than, and shall be held in trust for, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities or portions of principal amount thereof in respect of which such deposit was made, all subject, however, to the provisions of Section 1003; provided, however, that, so long as there shall not have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, any cash received from such principal or interest payments on such Eligible Obligations deposited with the Trustee, if not then needed for such purpose, shall, to the extent practicable, be invested in Eligible Obligations of the type described in Section 403(e)(2)(A) maturing at such times and in such amounts as shall be sufficient to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to become due on such Securities or portions thereof on and prior to the Maturity thereof, and interest earned from such reinvestment shall be paid over to the Company as received by the Trustee, free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this Indenture except the lien provided by Section 607; and provided, further, that, so long as there shall not have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, any moneys held by the Trustee in accordance with this Section on the Maturity of all such Securities in excess of the amount required to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, then due on such Securities shall be paid over to the Company free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this Indenture except the lien provided by Section 607.
(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against Eligible Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 401, 403 or 1007 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
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Section 403. Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Securities of Any Series. The Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Outstanding Securities of any series or Tranche, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (e) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such Outstanding Securities of such series, shall be satisfied and discharged and shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall at Company Request execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust funds described in subparagraph (e) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Outstanding Securities of such series, or portions thereof, on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest or to and including the Redemption Date irrevocably designated by the Company pursuant to subparagraph (k) hereof and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such series;
(b) the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to such Securities of such series under Sections 304, 305, 306, 614, 1002, 1003 and 1203 and, if the Company shall have irrevocably designated a Redemption Date pursuant to subparagraph (k) hereof, Sections 1104 and 1106; and
(c) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Trustee under Section 607;
provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(d) the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 402) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, (i) money in an amount, or (ii) (A) Eligible Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide on or before the due date of any payment referred to in clause (x) or (y) of this subparagraph (e) money in an amount or (B) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge (x) the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest or to and including the Redemption Date irrevocably designated by the Company pursuant to subparagraph (k) hereof and (y) any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of the Securities of such series;
(e) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(f) such provision would not cause any Outstanding Securities of such series then listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market or other securities exchange to be delisted as a result thereof;
(g) no Event of Default or event that with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;
(h) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (y) there has been a change in law or regulation occurring after the date hereof, to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(i) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with; and
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(j) if the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited money or Eligible Obligations to pay or discharge the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Securities of a series to and including a Redemption Date pursuant to subparagraph (e) hereof, such Redemption Date shall be irrevocably designated by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee on or prior to the date of deposit of such money or Eligible Obligations, and such Board Resolution shall be accompanied by an irrevocable Company Request that the Trustee give notice of such redemption in the name and at the expense of the Company not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to such Redemption Date in accordance with Section 1104.
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
Section 501. Events of Default. “Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events:
(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period by the Company as contemplated in Section 312 shall not constitute a failure to pay interest for this purpose; or
(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or
(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or
(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
(5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(6) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or
(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of such series as contemplated by Sections 301 and 901(3).
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Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default with respect to any series or Tranche of Senior Securities at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then, unless the principal of and interest on such series or Tranche of Senior Securities has already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such series or Tranche of Senior Securities then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), may declare the principal of and interest on all the Senior Securities of such series or Tranche (or if any of the Senior Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Senior Securities of such series or Tranche contained to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to more than one series or Tranche of Senior Securities, the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Senior Securities (or if any of the Senior Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all such series or Tranches (voting as one class) may make such declaration of acceleration, and not the Holders of the Senior Securities of any one of such series or Tranches.
If an Event of Default with respect to any series or Tranche of Subordinated Securities at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then, unless the principal of and interest on such series or Tranche of Subordinated Securities has already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Securities of such series or Tranche then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), may declare the principal of and interest on all the Subordinated Securities of such series or Tranche (or if any of the Subordinated Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Subordinated Securities of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to more than one series or Tranche of Subordinated Securities, the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Subordinated Securities (or if any of the Subordinated Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all such series or Tranche (voting as one class) may make such declaration of acceleration, and not the Holders of the Subordinated Securities of any one of such series or Tranches.
In the case of any declaration of acceleration of the Stated Maturity of any Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities of a series, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate stating the amount of principal to be paid to a Holder of $1,000 principal amount of such Securities.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Event or Events of Default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration shall, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences shall, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if
(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of any such series,
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(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of such series that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,
(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and
(D) all amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607;
and
(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. If an Event of Default described in clause (1) or (2) of Section 501 has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of the series with respect to which such Event of Default has occurred, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee deems most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607 and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
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and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 607.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or coupons or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee, and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, upon presentation of the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money shall have been collected and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, respectively; and
THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.
The Trustee may fix a record date (with respect to Registered Securities) and payment date for any such payment to Holders of Securities.
Section 507. Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;
(2) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series of Senior Securities in respect of which an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, considered as one class, shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder if such holder is a Holder of Senior Securities or the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series of Subordinated Securities in respect of which an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, considered as one class, shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder if such Holder is a Holder of Subordinated Securities;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity against the reasonable costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
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(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series;
it being understood and intended that (subject to Section 508) no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.
Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on the Repayment Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and such Holder shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and such Holder shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 512. Control by Holders. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing in respect of a series of Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series or Tranche; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to more than one series of Senior Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all such series, considered as one class, shall have the right to make such direction, an not the Holders of the Senior Securities of any one of such series, and if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to more than one series of Subordinated Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all such series, considered as one class, shall have the right to make such direction, and not the Holders of the Subordinated Securities of any one of such series; provided, further that
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
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Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences; provided that if any such past default has occurred with respect to more than one series of Senior Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all such series, considered as one class, may make such waiver, and not the Holders of any one of such series; provided further that if any such past default has occurred with respect to more than one series of Subordinated Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all such series, considered as one class, may make such waiver, and not the Holders of any one of such series, in each case except a default
(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Section 902 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 514. Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his 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, suffered 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; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series in respect of which such suit may be brought, considered as one class, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Repayment Date).
Section 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE VI
THE TRUSTEE
Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. (a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series,
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform, with respect to Securities of such series, such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
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(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which 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.
(b) If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise, with respect to Securities of such 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 man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(c) 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 wilful misconduct, except that
(1) this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of sub-section (a) of this Section;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, 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 a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any one or more series, as provided herein, 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 such series; and
(4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it has reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
Section 602. Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3) (and, if Unregistered Securities of that series are outstanding, shall cause to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if Securities of that series are listed on any stock exchange outside of the United States, in the city in which such stock exchange is located) notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 75 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.
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Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 601 and to the applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, or as otherwise expressly provided herein, and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate or a certificate of an officer or officers delivered pursuant to Section 301 and such Officer’s Certificate or certificate of an officer or officers, 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 by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof;
(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall (subject to applicable legal requirements) be entitled to examine, during normal business hours, the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney; and
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; no Depository or Paying Agent shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any of them.
Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities of any series or any coupons. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representations as to the Company’s ability or authority to issue the Unregistered Securities or the lawfulness thereof.
Section 605. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.
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Section 606. Money Held in Trust. Money held by the Trustee or by any Paying Agent (other than the Company if the Company shall act as Paying Agent) in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be liable for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as expressly provided herein or otherwise agreed with the Company.
Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees
(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith; and
(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder or performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities and any coupons upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except property and funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on particular Securities or any coupons.
Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or acquires any conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of any series, it shall either eliminate such conflicting interest or resign to the extent, in the manner and with the effect, and subject to the conditions, provided in the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. For purposes of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and to the extent permitted thereby, the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee in respect of the equally ranked and unsecured Securities of any series, shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest arising from its capacity as trustee in respect of the equally ranked and unsecured Securities of any other series under this Indenture or any securities issued under the Indenture dated as of [ ] between the Company and the Trustee [specifically describe other outstanding indentures with the Trustee].
Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia (or such other Person as may be permitted to act as Trustee by the Commission), authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and qualified and eligible under this Article, provided that, neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company may serve as Trustee of any Securities. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
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Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. (a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 has not been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
(c) The Company may at any time by a Board Resolution remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any or all series.
(d) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.
(e) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 608 with respect to the Securities of any series, after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months, or
(2) the Trustee ceases to be eligible under Section 609 and fails to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or
(3) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting or becomes adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property is appointed or any public officer takes 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, subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
(f) If the Trustee resigns, is removed or becomes incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series is appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series has been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, subject to Section 514, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
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(g) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3) and, if any Unregistered Securities are outstanding, by publishing notice of such event once in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if any Unregistered Securities are listed on any stock exchange outside of the United States, in the city in which such stock exchange is located. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
(h) All provisions of this Section except subparagraph (d) and Section 611(b) (except for the last clause, after omitting the words “after deducting all amounts owed to the retiring Trustee pursuant to Section 607,” which shall apply) shall apply also to any Paying Agent located outside the United States and its possessions.
Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. (a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of all series, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 607.
(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) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, after deducting all amounts owed to the retiring Trustee pursuant to Section 607, all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
(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, 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.
Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities, in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.
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Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents (which may include any Person that owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock of the Trustee or a corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trustee or of such other Person) with respect to one or more series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, that shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series or Tranche issued upon original issuance, exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. The Trustee shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series or Tranche with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, and which are entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3) and, if any Unregistered Securities are outstanding, by publishing notice of such event once in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if any Unregistered Securities are listed on any stock exchange outside of the United States, in the city in which such stock exchange is located. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $1,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign with respect to one or more series of Securities at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent with respect to one or more series of Securities by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent that is acceptable to the Company and shall provide notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series or Tranche with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section. An Authenticating Agent appointed pursuant to this Section shall be entitled to rely on Sections 111, 308, 604 and 605 hereunder.
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The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 607.
If an appointment with respect to the Securities of one or more series, or any Tranche thereof, is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series or Tranche may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated pursuant to and issued under the within-mentioned Indenture.
| [ ] | |
| As Trustee |
| By | ||
| As Authenticating Agent on behalf of the Trustee |
| By | ||
| Authorized Officer of Authenticating Agent |
Dated: ___________________
If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), shall appoint, in accordance with this Section and in accordance with such procedures as shall be acceptable to the Trustee, an Authenticating Agent (which, if so requested by the Company, may be an Affiliate of the Company) having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.
ARTICLE VII
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee
(a) semi-annually, not later than the 15th day after each Regular Record Date for each series of Registered Securities at the time Outstanding or on June 30 and December 31 of each year with respect to each series of Securities for which there are no Regular Record Dates, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, containing all the information in the possession or control of the Company, or any of its Paying Agents other than the Trustee, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Registered Securities of such series, including Holders of interests in Global Securities, as of such preceding Regular Record Date or on June 15 or December 15, as the case may be, or, in the case of a series of non-interest bearing Securities, on a date to be determined as contemplated pursuant to Section 301, and
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(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;
excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar for Registered Securities other than Global Securities.
Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of Registered Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders of Registered Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar or Paying Agent. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) If three or more Holders (herein referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five business days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either
(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), or
(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.
If the Trustee elects not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a) a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee by the applicants of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interest of the Holders or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, enters an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission finds, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and enters an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender by such applicants; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.
(c) Every Holder of Securities or coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Section 702(b), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 702(b).
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Section 703. Reports by Trustee. (a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the year 20__, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Registered Securities of any series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register and to all other Holders who are entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3), a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to any of the following events which may have occurred within the previous 12 months (but if no such event has occurred within such period no report need be transmitted):
(1) any change to its eligibility under Section 609 and its qualifications under Section 608;
(2) the creation of or any material change to a relationship specified in paragraphs (1) through (10) of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act;
(3) the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) which remain unpaid on the date of such report, and for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Securities of such series or any related coupons, on any property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee, except that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances if such advances so remaining unpaid aggregate not more than one-half of 1% of the principal amount of the Securities of such series Outstanding on the date of such report;
(4) the amount, interest rate and maturity date of all other indebtedness owing by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) to the Trustee in its individual capacity, on the date of such report, with a brief description of any property held as collateral security therefor, except an indebtedness based upon a creditor relationship arising in any manner described in paragraphs (2), (3), (4) or (6) of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act;
(5) any change to the property and funds, if any, physically in the possession of the Trustee as such on the date of such report;
(6) any additional issue of Securities which the Trustee has not previously reported; and
(7) any action taken by the Trustee in the performance of its duties hereunder which it has not previously reported and which in its opinion materially affects the Securities of such series, except action in respect of a default, notice of which has been or is to be withheld by the Trustee in accordance with Section 602.
(b) The Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Registered Securities of any series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register and to all Holders who are entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3), a brief report with respect to the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) since the date of the last report transmitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section (or if no such report has yet been so transmitted, since the date of execution of this instrument) for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Securities of such series, on property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee and which it has not previously reported pursuant to this subsection, except that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances if such advances remaining unpaid at any time aggregate 10% or less of the principal amount of the Securities of such series Outstanding at such time, such report to be transmitted within 90 days after such time.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 704. Reports by Company. The Company shall:
(1) file with the Trustee, within 45 days after the Company is required to file the same with the 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 Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports that may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;
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(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and
(3) transmit by mail to all Holders of Registered Securities, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, to such Holders of Unregistered Securities as have, within the two years preceding such transmission, filed their names and addresses with the Trustee for that purpose and to each Holder whose name and address is then preserved on the Trustee’s list pursuant to the first sentence of Section 702(a), 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 paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.
ARTICLE VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER
Section 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, unless:
(1) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on all the Outstanding Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing;
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been met.
Section 802. Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company in accordance with Section 801, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company herein and thereafter, in the case of a conveyance, transfer or lease of properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety, such conveyance, transfer or lease shall have the effect of releasing the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument or any successor corporation which shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article from its liability as obligor and maker on any of the Securities.
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ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or
(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof (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; or
(3) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities Outstanding hereunder; or
(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; or
(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, or to add any new provision to this Indenture, in respect of one or more series or Tranches of Securities; provided, however, that any such change, elimination or addition (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security Outstanding on the date of such indenture supplemental hereto nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision in effect prior to the date of such indenture supplemental hereto or (B) shall become effective only when no Security of such series or Tranche remains Outstanding; or
(6) to secure the Securities pursuant to the requirements of any covenant on liens in respect of such series of Securities or otherwise; or
(7) to establish for the issuance of and establish the form or terms and conditions of Securities of any series or Tranche as permitted by Section 301, and to establish the form of any certificates required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities; or
(8) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of all, or any series or Tranche of, certificated Securities; or
(9) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a separate or successor Trustee or co-trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611(b); or
(10) to change any place or places where (a) the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, (b) all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for registration or transfer, (c) all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for exchange and (d) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, and this Indenture may be served;
(11) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, provided such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or Tranche in any material respect; or
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(12) to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of any Securities of any series or Tranche Outstanding on the date of such indenture supplemental hereto.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Trust Indenture Act as in effect at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture or at any time thereafter becomes amended and
(x) if any such amendment requires one or more changes to any provisions hereof or the inclusion herein of any additional provisions, or by operation of law is deemed to effect such changes or incorporate such provisions by reference or otherwise, this Indenture shall be deemed to have been amended so as to conform to such amendment to the Trust Indenture Act, and the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to effect or evidence such changes or additional provisions; or
(y) if any such amendment permits one or more changes to, or the elimination of, any provisions hereof that, at the date hereof or at any time thereafter, are required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained herein (or if it is no longer required by the TIA for the Indenture to contain one or more provisions), this Indenture shall be deemed to have been amended to effect such changes or elimination, and the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to evidence such amendment hereof; or
(z) if, by reason of any such amendment, it shall be no longer necessary for this Indenture to contain one or more provisions that, at the date of the execution and delivery hereof, are required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained herein, the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to effect the elimination of such provisions.
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders. (a) Except as set forth in paragraph (c) below, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Securities of all series then Outstanding (considered as one class), the Company, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to a Company Order), and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series or Tranche or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series or Tranche under this Indenture; provided, however, that if there are Senior Securities of more than one series Outstanding hereunder and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Senior Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required; and provided, further, that if the Securities of any series have been issued in more than one Tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Senior Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such Tranches, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all Tranches so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required.
(b) Except as set forth in paragraph (c) below, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Securities of all series then Outstanding (considered as one class), the Company, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to a Company Order), and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series or Tranche under this Indenture; provided, however, that if there are Subordinated Securities of more than one series Outstanding hereunder and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Subordinated Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required; and provided, further, that if the Securities of any series have been issued in more than one Tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Subordinated Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such Tranches, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all Tranches so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required.
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(c) No such supplemental indenture or waiver shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon (or the amount of any installment of interest thereon) or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest thereon, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change the coin or currency (or other property) in which, any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holders, on or after the Repayment Date), or modify any provisions of this Indenture with respect to the conversion or exchange of the Securities into Securities of another series or into any other debt or equity securities in a manner adverse to the Holders, or
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this indenture, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1007, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1007, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611(b) and 901(9).
A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or one or more Tranches thereof, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series or Tranches with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series or Tranche.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof. A waiver by a Holder of such Holder’s rights to consent under this Section shall be deemed to be a consent of such Holder.
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby. Any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article may restate this Indenture in its entirety, and, upon the execution and delivery thereof, any such restatement shall supersede this Indenture as theretofore in effect for all purposes.
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Section 905. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company so determines, new Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, and any appertaining coupons so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche and any appertaining coupons.
Section 907. Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have consented to the amendment or waiver. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of each series of Securities affected by such amendment or waiver.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph, those persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be Holders after such record date.
After an amendment or waiver becomes effective it shall bind every Holder, unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (1) through (3) of Section 902(c). In such case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
Section 908. Modification Without Supplemental Indenture. If the terms of any particular series of Securities have been established in a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate as contemplated by Section 301, and not in an indenture supplemental hereto, additions to, changes in or the elimination of any of such terms may be effected by means of a supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate, as the case may be, delivered to, and accepted by, the Trustee; provided, however, that such supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate shall not be accepted by the Trustee or otherwise be effective unless all conditions set forth in this Indenture that would be required to be satisfied if such additions, changes or elimination were contained in a supplemental indenture shall have been appropriately satisfied. Upon the acceptance thereof by the Trustee, any such supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate shall be deemed to be a “supplemental indenture” for purposes of Sections 904 and 906.
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ARTICLE X
COVENANTS
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. Subject to the following provisions, the Company will pay to the Trustee the amounts, in such coin or currency as is at the time legal tender for the payment of public or private debt, in the manner, at the times and for the purposes set forth herein and in the text of the Securities for each series, and the Company hereby authorizes and directs the Trustee from funds so paid to it to make or cause to be made payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities and coupons of each series as set forth herein and in the text of such Securities and coupons. Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, the Trustee will arrange directly with any Paying Agents for the payment, or the Trustee will make payment, from funds furnished by the Company, of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities and coupons of each series by check or draft.
Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, interest, if any, on Registered Securities of a series shall be paid by check or draft on each Interest Payment Date for such series to the Holder thereof at the close of business on the relevant record dates specified in the Securities of such series. The Company may pay such interest by check or draft mailed to such Holder’s address as it appears on the register for Securities of such series. Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, principal of Registered Securities shall be payable by check or draft and only against presentation and surrender of such Registered Securities at the office of the Paying Agent, unless the Company shall have otherwise instructed the Trustee in writing.
Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, (i) interest, if any, on Unregistered Securities shall be paid by check or draft and only against presentation and surrender of the coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they mature and (ii) original issue discount (as defined in Section 1273 of the Code), if any, on Unregistered Securities shall be paid by check or draft and only against presentation and surrender of such Securities, in either case at the office of a Paying Agent located outside of the United States and its possessions, unless the Company has otherwise instructed the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate. Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, principal of and premium, if any, of Unregistered Securities shall be paid by check or draft and only against presentation and surrender of such Securities as provided in the Securities of a series. If at the time a payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, or original issue discount, if any, on an Unregistered Security or coupon becomes due and the payment of the full amount so payable at the office or offices of all the Paying Agents outside the United States and its possessions is illegal or effectively precluded because of the imposition of exchange controls or other similar restrictions on the payment of such amount in United States currency, then the Company may instruct the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate to make such payments at the office of a Paying Agent located in the United States. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that it shall not so instruct the Trustee with respect to payment in the United States if such payment would cause such Unregistered Security to be treated as a “registration-required obligation” under United States law and regulations.
At the election of the Company, any payments by the Company provided for in this Indenture or in any of the Securities may be made by electronic funds transfer.
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, an office or agency where Registered Securities, or any Tranche thereof, of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and a Place of Payment where (subject to Sections 305 and 307) Securities may be presented for payment or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any such series, the Company shall maintain such offices or agencies in connection with each series in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, State of New York. With respect to any series of Securities issued in whole or in part as Unregistered Securities, the Company shall maintain one or more Paying Agents located outside the United States and its possessions and shall maintain such Paying Agents for a period of one year after the principal of such Unregistered Securities has become due and payable. During any period thereafter for which it is necessary in order to conform to United States tax law or regulations, the Company will maintain a Paying Agent outside the United States and its possessions to which the Unregistered Securities or coupons appertaining thereto may be presented for payment and will provide the necessary funds therefor to such Paying Agent upon reasonable notice. The Security Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each series of Securities issued in whole or in part as Registered Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-Security Registrars acceptable to the Trustee and one or more additional Paying Agents for each series of Securities, and the Company may terminate the appointment of any co-Security Registrar or Paying Agent at any time upon written notice. The term “Security Registrar” includes any co-Security Registrar. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional Paying Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. Subject to Section 305, if the Company fails to maintain a Security Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
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The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
In the case of Original Issue Discount Securities of a series, the Company shall, prior to any Redemption Date or any Repayment Date applicable thereto, furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate stating the amount of principal to be paid to a Holder of $1,000 principal amount of such Securities.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any office or agency required by this Section may be maintained at any office of the Company in which event the Company shall perform all functions to be performed at such office or agency.
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust. If the Company at any time acts as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any of such Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums are paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
Whenever the Company has one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to (and if on, then before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time)) each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient (in immediately available funds, if payment is made on the due date) to pay the principal (and premium, if any) 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 will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:
(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Securities of such series or Tranche in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums are paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or Tranche) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series or Tranche; and
(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.
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Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or received by the Trustee in respect of Eligible Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401, 403 or 1007, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years (or such shorter period for the return of such moneys to the Company under applicable abandoned property laws) after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
Section 1004. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article VIII, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if, in the judgment of the Company, the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of Securities of any series or Tranche in any material respect.
Section 1005. Defeasance of Certain Obligations. The Company may omit to comply with its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 1002, 1004 (except with respect to maintaining its corporate existence), 1006, 1008 and Article VIII with respect to any Security or Securities of any series or Tranche or any portion of the principal amount thereof (and in respect of any term, provision or condition set forth in the covenants or restrictions specified for such Securities pursuant to Section 301, in any supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate establishing such Security), provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(1) With reference to this Section, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 402) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or portions thereof, (i) money in an amount, or (ii) if Securities of such series are not subject to repayment at the option of Holders, (A) Eligible Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide not later than one day before the due date of any payment referred to in clause (x) or (y) of this subparagraph (1) money in an amount, or (B) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge (x) the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Outstanding Securities of such series or portions thereof on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or premium or interest or to and including the Redemption Date irrevocably designated by the Company pursuant to subparagraph (7) of this Section and (y) any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series or portions thereof on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and of such Securities or portions thereof;
(2) Such deposit shall not, as specified in an Opinion of Counsel, cause the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 608 and for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of such series;
(3) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(4) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and no Event of Default specified in Section 501(6) or (7) shall have occurred at any time from the date of such deposit to the 91st calendar day thereafter (it being understood that this condition to defeasance may not be satisfied until such 91st calendar day after the date of deposit);
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(5) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not realize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance of certain obligations and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
(6) The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been met; and
(7) If the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited money or Eligible Obligations to pay or discharge the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Outstanding Securities of such series or portion thereof to and including a Redemption Date pursuant to subparagraph (1) of this Section, such Redemption Date shall be irrevocably designated by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee on or prior to the date of deposit of such money or Eligible Obligations, and such Board Resolution shall be accompanied by an irrevocable Company Request that the Trustee give notice of such redemption in the name and at the expense of the Company not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to such Redemption Date in accordance with Section 1104.
Section 1006. 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, a written statement, which need not comply with Section 102, signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company stating, as to each signer thereof, that
(1) a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made under his supervision, and
(2) to the best of his knowledge, based on such review, the Company has fulfilled all its obligations under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to him and the nature and status thereof.
Section 1007. Waiver of Certain Covenants. (a) The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in (i) any additional covenants or restrictions specified with respect to the Senior Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, as contemplated by Section 301 if before the time for such compliance the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount (or such larger proportion as may be required in respect of waiving a past default of any such additional covenant or restriction) of the Outstanding Securities of all series and Tranches with respect to which such covenant or restriction was so specified, considered as one class, by Act of such Holders, either waives such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition and (ii) Sections 1002, 1004, 1006 and 1008 and Article VIII if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of Senior Securities Outstanding under this Indenture by Act of such Holders, either waives such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition; but, in the case of (i) or (ii) of this paragraph (a), no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver becomes effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
(b) The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in (i) any additional covenants or restrictions specified with respect to the Subordinated Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, as contemplated by Section 301 if before the time for such compliance the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount (or such larger proportion as may be required in respect of waiving a past default of any such additional covenant or restriction) of the Outstanding Securities of all series and Tranches with respect to which such covenant or restriction was so specified, considered as one class, by Act of such Holders, either waives such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition and (ii) Sections 1002, 1004, 1006 and 1008 and Article VIII if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of Subordinated Securities Outstanding under this Indenture by Act of such Holders, either waives such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition; but, in the case of (i) or (ii) of this paragraph (b), no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver becomes effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
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Section 1008. Maintenance of Properties. The Company shall cause (or, with respect to property owned in common with others, make reasonable effort to cause) all its properties used or useful in the conduct of its business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and shall cause (or, with respect to property owned in common with others, make reasonable effort to cause) to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as, in the judgment of the Company, may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing, or causing the discontinuance of, the operation and maintenance of any of its properties if, in the judgment of the Company, such discontinuance (i) is desirable in the conduct of its business and (ii) will not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or Tranche in any material respect.
ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 1101. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity (or, if the principal of the Securities of any series is payable in installments, the Stated Maturity of the final installment of the principal thereof) shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series or Tranche) in accordance with this Article.
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice is satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series or Tranche to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche not previously called for redemption, by such method as is provided for any particular series, or, in the absence of any such provision, by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or Tranche or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series or Tranche of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or Tranche; provided, however, that if, as indicated in an Officer’s Certificate, the Company has offered to purchase all or any principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding of any series, or any Tranche thereof, and less than all of such Securities as to which such offer was made have been tendered to the Company for such purchase, the Trustee, if so directed by Company Order, shall select for redemption all or any principal amount of such Securities that have not been so tendered.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
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For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities that has been or is to be redeemed.
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.
If Unregistered Securities are to be redeemed, notice of redemption shall be published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if such Securities to be redeemed are listed on any stock exchange outside of the United States, in the city in which such stock exchange is located, or in such other city or cities as may be specified in the Securities, once in each of two different calendar weeks, the first publication to be not less than 30 nor more than 90 days before the redemption date.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date,
(2) the Redemption Price, or the formula pursuant to which the Redemption Price is to be determined if the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time of notice is given,
(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series or Tranche are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed, and the portion of the principal amount of any Security to be redeemed in part and, in the case of any such Security of such series to be redeemed in part, 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 remaining unpaid principal amount thereof will be issued as provided in Section 1106,
(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,
(5) the place or places where such Securities and all unmatured coupons are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,
(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,
(7) the CUSIP numbers, if any, assigned to such Securities; provided however, that such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of CUSIP numbers, and the redemption of such Securities shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such number, and
(8) such other matters as the Company shall deem desirable or appropriate.
Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities in accordance with Section 301, with respect to any notice of redemption of Securities at the election of the Company, unless, upon the giving of such notice, such Securities are deemed to have been paid in accordance with Section 401, such notice may state that such redemption shall be conditional upon the receipt by the Paying Agent or Agents for such Securities, on or prior to the date fixed for such redemption, of money sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Securities and that if such money has not been so received such notice shall be of no force or effect and the Company shall not be required to redeem such Securities. In the event that such notice of redemption contains such a condition and such money is not so received, the redemption shall not be made and within a reasonable time thereafter notice shall be given, in the manner in which the notice of redemption was given, that such money was not so received and such redemption was not required to be made, and the Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities otherwise to have been redeemed shall promptly return to the Holders thereof any of such Securities that had been surrendered for payment upon such redemption.
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Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company, and any notice of non-satisfaction of a condition for redemption as aforesaid, shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Security Registrar in the name and at the expense of the Company. Notice of mandatory redemption of Securities shall be given by the Security Registrar in the name and at the expense of the Company.
Section 1105. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, and the conditions, if any, set forth in such notice having been satisfied, the Securities or portions thereof so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities, or portions thereof, if interest-bearing, shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security or portion thereof together with all unmatured coupons, if any, shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date but in the case of Unregistered Securities installments of interest due on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the bearers of the coupons for such interest by check or draft upon surrender of such coupons; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.
Section 1106. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, and of like tenor and in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.
ARTICLE XII
SINKING FUNDS
Section 1201. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series or Tranche.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, 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, or any Tranche thereof, is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of the series or Tranche in respect of which it was made as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments With Securities. The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series or Tranche (other than any previously called for redemption) together, in the case of Unregistered Securities, with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto, in respect of which a mandatory sinking fund payment is to be made and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of such series or Tranche 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.
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Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series or Tranche pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. If the Company has not delivered such Officer’s Certificate and, to the extent applicable, all such Securities, the next succeeding sinking fund payment for such series or Tranche shall be made entirely in cash in the amount of the mandatory sinking fund payment. 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 1103 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 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1105 and 1106.
ARTICLE XIII
REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS
Section 1301. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series or Tranche that are repayable before their Stated Maturity at the option of the Holders shall be repayable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
Section 1302. Notice of Repayment Date. Notice of any Repayment Date with respect to Securities of any series or Tranche thereof shall be given by the Company not less than 45 nor more than 60 days prior to such Repayment Date (or at such other times as may be specified for such repayment or repurchase pursuant to Section 301 of this Indenture) to each Holder of Securities of such series in accordance with Section 106.
The notice as to the Repayment Date shall state (unless otherwise specified for such repayment or repurchase pursuant to Section 301 of this Indenture):
(1) the Repayment Date, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date on which such notice is mailed;
(2) the principal amount of the Securities required to be repaid or repurchased and the Repayment Price (or the formula pursuant to which the Repayment Price is to be determined if the Repayment Price cannot be determined at the time the notice is given);
(3) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Repayment Price, and accrued interest, if any, and the date by which Securities must be so surrendered in order to be repaid or repurchased;
(4) that any Security not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;
(5) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, Securities accepted for payment pursuant to any such offer of repayment or repurchase shall cease to accrue interest after the Repayment Date;
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(6) that Holders electing to have a Security repaid or purchased pursuant to such offer may elect to have all or any portion of such Security purchased;
(7) that Holders electing to have a Security repaid or repurchased pursuant to any such offer shall be required to surrender the Security, with such customary documents of surrender and transfer as the Company may reasonably request, duly completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company or the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least two Business Days prior to the Repayment Date;
(8) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the offer to repay or repurchase, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Security purchased;
(9) that, in the case of a repayment or repurchase of less than all Outstanding Securities of a series or Tranche thereof, the method of selection of Securities to be repaid or repurchased to be applied by the Trustee if the principal amount of properly tendered Securities exceeds the principal amount of the Securities to be repaid or repurchased;
(10) that Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities of the same series or Tranche thereof equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer); and
(11) the CUSIP or other identification number, if any, printed on the Securities being repurchased and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or other identification number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.
Section 1303. Securities Payable on Repayment Date. The form of option to elect repurchase or repayment having been delivered as specified in the form of Security for such series, the Securities of such series or Tranche so to be repaid (after application of the method of selection described pursuant to clause (9) of Section 1302, if the principal amount of properly tendered Securities exceeds the principal amount of the Securities to be repaid or repurchased) shall, on the Repayment Date, become due and payable at the Repayment Price applicable thereto and from and after such date (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Repayment Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Repayment Price together with accrued interest, if any, to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that if a Security is repaid or repurchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the Stated Maturity of any installments of interest, then any accrued and unpaid interest due on such Stated Maturity shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.
If any Security is not paid upon surrender thereof for repayment, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate prescribed therefor in such Security.
Section 1304. Securities Repaid in Part. Any Security that by its terms may be repaid in part at the option of the Holder and that is to be repaid only in part shall be surrendered at any office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose pursuant to Section 1002 (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, as provided in Section 305, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unrepaid portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the date first above written.
| ASSET ENTITIES, INC. |
[CORPORATE SEAL]
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Attest:
| Name: | ||
| Title: | Secretary | |
| [ ] |
| By: |
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| STATE OF [ ] | ) |
| ) ss: | |
| CITY OF [ ] AND COUNTY OF [ ] ) |
On the day of [ ] 20__, before me personally came _______, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is a director of ASSET ENTITIES, INC., one of the companies described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instruments is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Bylaws of said corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation.
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ASSET ENTITIES INC.
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and
Indenture, dated as of __, 20__
| Trust Indenture Act Section |
Indenture Sections | |
| § 310 | (a)(1) | 609 |
| (a)(2) | 609 | |
| (a)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(4) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(5) | 609 | |
| (b) | 608 | |
| 610 | ||
| § 311 | (a) | 613(a) |
| (b) | 613(b) | |
| (b)(2) | 703(a)(2) | |
| 703(b) | ||
| § 312 | (a) | 701 |
| 702(a) | ||
| (b) | 702(b) | |
| (c) | 702(c) | |
| § 313 | (a) | 703(a) |
| (b) | 703(b) | |
| (c) | 703(a), 703(b) | |
| (d) | 703(c) | |
| § 314 | (a) | 704 |
| (b) | Not Applicable | |
| (c)(1) | 102 | |
| (c)(2) | 102 | |
| (c)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (d) | Not Applicable | |
| (e) | 102 | |
| § 315 | (a) | 601(a) |
| (b) | 602 | |
| 703(a)(7) | ||
| (c) | 601(b) | |
| (d) | 601(c) | |
| (d)(l) | 601(a)(1) | |
| (d)(2) | 601(c)(2) | |
| (d)(3) | 601(c)(3) | |
| (e) | 514 | |
| § 316 | (a) | 101 |
| (a)(1)(A) | 502 | |
| 512 | ||
| (a)(1)(B) | 513 | |
| (a)(2) | Not Applicable | |
| (b) | 508 | |
| (c) | 104(g) | |
| § 317 | (a)(l) | 503 |
| (a)(2) | 504 | |
| (b) | 1003 | |
| § 318 | (a) | 107 |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
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Exhibit 5.1
E: lou@bevilacquapllc.com
T: 202.869.0888
W: bevilacquapllc.com
April 16, 2024
Asset Entities Inc.
100 Crescent Court, 7th Floor
Dallas, TX 75201
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Asset Entities Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada (the “Company”), in connection with its filing of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 on the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for the issue and sale by the Company of up to $100,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies, foreign currency units or composite currencies of (a) shares of Class B Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), (b) shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (c) debt securities, in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”), (d) warrants to purchase Class B Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, or any combination thereof (the “Warrants”), (e) subscription rights to purchase Class B Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, or Units (as defined herein) (the “Rights”), and (f) units consisting of Class B Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Rights, or any combination thereof (the “Units” and together with the Debt Securities, the Warrants, and the Rights, the “Documents”). The Class B Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, the Warrants, the Rights and the Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities” and individually as a “Security”. The Securities shall include any additional amounts of such securities the offer and sale of which are registered pursuant to a registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act in connection with one or more offerings contemplated by such Registration Statement. The Debt Securities will be issued under an indenture of the Company, proposed to be entered into with a trustee to be named therein (the “Trustee”), as such indenture may be supplemented from time to time (the “Indenture”).
We have reviewed the Registration Statement and such other agreements, documents, records, certificates and other materials, and have reviewed and are familiar with such corporate proceedings and satisfied ourselves as to such other matters, as we have considered relevant or necessary as a basis for this opinion. In such review, we have assumed the accuracy and completeness of all agreements, documents, records, certificates and other materials submitted to us, the conformity with the originals of all such materials submitted to us as copies (whether or not certified and including facsimiles), the authenticity of the originals of such materials and all materials submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the legal capacity of all natural persons.
On the basis of the assumptions and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
| I. | With respect to the Debt Securities to be issued under the Indenture to be entered into by the Company and the Trustee, when (a) the specific terms of any particular series of Debt Securities have been duly established in accordance with the Indenture and applicable law and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including the adoption by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) of resolutions duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of such Debt Securities and the Securities that such Debt Securities may be exchangeable for and/or convertible into), and (b) any such Debt Securities have been duly executed and issued by the Company, duly authenticated by the Trustee and duly delivered by or on behalf of the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the Indenture and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the related prospectus and by such corporate action, such Debt Securities will be the legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
1050 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
PG. 2 April 16, 2024 |
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| II. | With respect to the Warrants to be issued by the Company, when (a) the specific terms of any such Warrants have been duly established in accordance with applicable law and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including the adoption by the Board of resolutions duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of such Warrants and the Securities that such Warrants may be exercisable for), and (b) any such Warrants have been duly executed and issued by the Company and such Warrants have been duly delivered by or on behalf of the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the Warrants and/or any warrant agreement and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the related prospectus and by such corporate action, such Warrants will be the legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
| III. | With respect to the Rights to be issued by the Company, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of the Rights, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, (b) the rights agreement under which the Rights are to be issued has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company, (c) such Rights have been duly executed and authenticated or countersigned in accordance with the terms of such rights agreement (a “Rights Agreement”) and (d) the Rights have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Rights Agreement, such Rights will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
| IV. | With respect to the Units to be issued by the Company, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of securities underlying such Units in connection therewith, the terms of such Units, the terms of the offering of such Units, and related matters, (b) if applicable, one or more agreements incorporating the terms and other provisions of such Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and a unit agent (a “Unit Agreement”), (c) such Units have been duly executed and authenticated or countersigned in accordance with the terms of such Unit Agreement and (d) the Units have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Unit Agreement, such Units will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
Each opinion in this letter that any Security is a valid and binding obligation or is enforceable in accordance with its terms is subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance and other similar laws and judicially developed doctrines in this area such as substantive consolidation and equitable subordination; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity; and (iii) other commonly recognized statutory and judicial constraints on enforceability including statutes of limitations. In addition, we do not express any opinion as to the enforceability of any rights to contribution or indemnification which may be violative of public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation). “General principles of equity” include, but are not limited to: Principles limiting the availability of specific performance and injunctive relief; principles which limit the availability of a remedy under certain circumstances where another remedy has been elected; principles requiring reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing in the performance and enforcement of an agreement by the party seeking enforcement; principles which may permit a party to cure a material failure to perform its obligations; and principles affording equitable defenses such as waiver, laches and estoppel. It is possible that terms in a particular contract covered by our opinion may not prove enforceable for reasons other than those explicitly cited in this letter should an actual enforcement action be brought, but (subject to all the exceptions, qualifications, exclusions and other limitations contained in this letter) such unenforceability would not in our opinion prevent the party entitled to enforce that contract from realizing the principal benefits purported to be provided to that party by the terms in that contract which are covered by our opinion.
PG. 3 April 16, 2024 |
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Except as noted below, our advice on every legal issue addressed in this letter is based exclusively on the internal law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States as in effect on the date hereof (the “Applicable Laws”) and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or as to any matters or municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state. For purposes of the opinions herein we have assumed that the governing law under each of the Documents shall be the laws of the State of New York. We express no opinion as to what law might be applied by any other courts to resolve any issue addressed by our opinion and we express no opinion as to whether any relevant differences exist between the laws upon which our opinions are based and any other laws which may actually be applied to resolve issues which may arise under any of the Documents. The manner in which any particular issue would be treated in any actual court case would depend in part on facts and circumstances particular to the case and would also depend on how the court involved chose to exercise the wide discretionary authority generally available to it. This letter is not intended to guarantee the outcome of any legal dispute that may arise in the future.
We have not undertaken any search of court records for purposes of this letter. We have assumed that each applicable party to the Documents (i) is an entity duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization; (ii) has adopted by requisite vote of its board of directors, board of managers or analogous governing body the resolutions or approvals necessary to authorize such party’s execution, delivery and performance of such Documents; (iii) has duly authorized, executed and delivered such Documents; (iv) has all corporate and other organizational power and authority (including without limitation the power and authority under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization) to execute and deliver such Documents and perform its respective obligations under such Documents; (v) has satisfied all legal requirements that are applicable to such party to the extent necessary to entitle such party to enforce such Documents; and (vi) is not required by any law to obtain any consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency in order to obtain the right to enter into such Documents or to take any action taken by it in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Documents in accordance with their terms, and the execution and delivery by such party of the Documents, and that the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby in accordance with the terms thereof will not violate any existing provisions of the organizational documents of such party or any law or governmental regulation. For purposes of the opinions above, we have assumed, without conducting any research or investigation with respect thereto, the corporate or other power of, and the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Documents by, the Company, the absence of any conflicts with the organizational documents of the Company and the absence of any conflicts with, or consents required under, the laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
In preparing this letter we have relied without independent verification upon: (i) information contained in certificates obtained from governmental authorities; and (ii) factual information provided to us by the Company. We have assumed that there has been no relevant change or development between the dates as of which the information cited in the preceding sentence was made available to us and the date of this letter and that the information upon which we have relied is accurate and does not omit disclosures necessary to prevent such information from being misleading. Whenever this letter provides advice about (or based upon) our knowledge of any particular information, such advice is based entirely on the actual knowledge at the time this letter is delivered on the date it bears by the lawyers with Bevilacqua PLLC who have represented or are representing the Company in connection with the issuance of the Securities after consultation with other lawyers with Bevilacqua PLLC who have represented the Company on other substantive matters.
PG. 4 April 16, 2024 |
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None of the opinions or other advice contained in this letter considers or covers: (a) any antifraud laws, rules or regulations; (b) any state securities (or “blue sky”) laws or regulations or securities laws or regulations of jurisdictions outside the United States; (c) any financial statements or supporting schedules (or any notes to any such statements or schedules) or other financial or statistical information derived therefrom set forth in (or omitted from) the Registration Statement and/or the related prospectus; or (d) any laws, statutes, governmental rules or regulations or decisions which in our experience are not usually considered for or covered by opinions like those contained in this letter or are not generally applicable to transactions of the kind covered by the Documents including any regulatory laws or requirements specific to the industry in which the Company is engaged. In addition, none of the opinions or other advice contained in this letter covers or otherwise addresses any of the following types of provisions which may be contained in the Documents: (i) provisions mandating contribution towards judgments or settlements among various parties; (ii) waivers of benefits and rights to the extent they cannot be waived under applicable law; (iii) provisions providing for liquidated damages, late charges and prepayment charges, in each case if deemed to constitute penalties; or (iv) requirements in the Documents specifying that provisions thereof may only be waived in writing (these provisions may not be valid, binding or enforceable to the extent that an oral agreement or an implied agreement by trade practice or course of conduct has been created modifying any provision of such documents).
The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York. Insofar as the foregoing opinions involve matters governed by the laws of the State of Nevada, we have relied, without independent inquiry or investigation, on the opinions of Fennemore Craig P.C., Nevada counsel for the Company, delivered to you today. The opinions set forth in this letter are being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, other than as to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and in the prospectus forming a part thereof and any supplement thereto. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ BEVILACQUA PLLC |
Exhibit 5.2
 |
Thomas J. Morgan Director tmorgan@fennemorelaw.com
9275 W. Russell Road, Suite 240 Las Vegas, Nevada 89148 PH (702) 692-8026 | FX (702) 692-8075 fennemorelaw.com |
April 16, 2024
Asset Entities Inc.
100 Crescent Court, 7th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75201
| Re: | Asset Entities Inc./Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Nevada counsel to Asset Entities Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration by the Company of up to $100,000,000 of the Company’s Securities (as defined below) under a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) as of the date hereof in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
The prospectus (the “Prospectus”) that forms part of the Registration Statement provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more prospectus supplements (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”) in connection with the registration of any Securities. The Registration Statement, including the Prospectus as supplemented from time-to-time by one or more Prospectus Supplements, covers the offering and issuance by the Company of:
(a) shares of Class B Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”);
(b) shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”);
(c) debt securities, in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”), which may be issued pursuant to an indenture to be dated on or about the date of the first issuance of Debt Securities thereunder (an “Indenture”), by and between a trustee to be selected by the Company (the “Trustee”) and the Company;
(d) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”);
(e) subscription rights to purchase shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, or Units (as defined below) (the “Rights”); and
Asset Entities Inc.
April 16, 2024
Page 2
(f) units comprised of any combination of shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, or Rights (the “Units” and collectively with the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Warrants, the Debt Securities, and the Rights, the “Securities”).
The Securities may be issued in an unspecified number and the Debt Securities may be issued in an unspecified principal amount. The Registration Statement provides that the Securities may be offered separately or together, in separate series, in amounts, at prices, and on terms to be set forth in one or more Prospectus Supplements. The Securities are to be sold pursuant to a purchase, underwriting, subscription, placement agency, or similar agreement, which will be in substantially the forms previously filed or to be filed under a Current Report on Form 8-K.
For purposes of these opinions, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of:
(a) the Registration Statement;
(b) a form of the Indenture;
(c) the Articles of Incorporation of the Company as filed with the Secretary of State of Nevada on March 9, 2022;
(d) the Bylaws of the Company as adopted on March 9, 2022; and
(e) certain resolutions and actions of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the issuance and registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, and such other matters as relevant.
We have obtained from officers and agents of the Company and from public officials, and have relied upon, such certificates, representations, and assurances as we have deemed necessary and appropriate for purposes of rendering this opinion letter. We have also examined such other corporate charter documents, records, certificates, and instruments (collectively with the documents identified in (a) through (e) above, the “Documents”) as we deem necessary or advisable to render the opinions set forth herein.
In our examination, we have assumed:
(a) the legal capacity of all natural persons executing the Documents;
(b) the genuineness of all signatures on the Documents;
Asset Entities Inc.
April 16, 2024
Page 3
(c) the authenticity of all Documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to original documents of all Documents submitted to us as copies;
(d) that the parties to such Documents, other than the Company, had the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder;
(e) other than with respect to the Company, the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, of the execution, delivery and performance by all parties of the Documents, and the validity and binding effect thereof on such parties;
(f) that: (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto shall have become effective under the Securities Act and will remain effective at the time of issuance of any Securities thereunder; (ii) a Prospectus Supplement describing each class of Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement will be timely filed with the Commission; (iii) the definitive terms of each class or series of Securities shall have been established in accordance with resolutions (each, a “Board Action”) duly adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors in compliance with the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and applicable law; (iv) the Company will issue and deliver the Securities identified in any applicable Prospectus Supplement in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the applicable Prospectus Supplement, and any applicable underwriting, subscription, placement agency, or similar agreement; (v) the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable (including upon conversion, exchange, or exercise of any other security) will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is authorized to issue under its Articles of Incorporation at the time of issuance; (vi) the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable (including upon conversion, exchange, or exercise of any other security) will not exceed the total number of shares of Preferred Stock that the Company is authorized to issue under its Articles of Incorporation at the time of issuance; (vii) the Board Action authorizing the Company to offer, issue, and sell the Securities will have been adopted by the Board and will be in full force and effect at the time the Securities are offered and sold by the Company; and (viii) all Securities will have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities law;
(g) with respect to Debt Securities, that: (i) such Debt Securities shall have been issued pursuant to an Indenture and the terms of the Indenture are in compliance with the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “TIA”); (ii) the Trustee under such Indenture (A) is qualified to act as a trustee of the Indenture under the TIA and any applicable state law, and is in compliance with such laws with respect to acting as trustee of the Indenture, (B) is organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (C) has duly authorized, executed, and delivered such Indenture and such Indenture constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of such Trustee, and (D) has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the Indenture; (iii) such Indenture shall have been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Company; (iv) any terms of such Debt Securities not provided for in the Indenture shall have been established in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture and reflected in appropriate documentation executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee; (v) such Debt Securities shall have been duly executed, authenticated, issued, and delivered in accordance with the provisions of such Indenture; (vi) such Debt Securities do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement binding on the Company; and (vii) such Debt Securities comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company; and
Asset Entities Inc.
April 16, 2024
Page 4
(h) With respect to Warrants, Rights, and Units, that: (i) such Securities have been issued pursuant to an agreement (“Agreement”) between the Company and an agent identified in the applicable Agreement (the “Agent”); (ii) the Agent under such Agreement (A) is qualified to act as an agent under the Agreement under any applicable federal or state law, and is in compliance with such laws with respect to acting as agent under the Agreement, (B) is organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (C) has duly authorized, executed, and delivered such Agreement and such Agreement constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of such Agent, and (D) has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the Agreement; (iii) such Agreement shall have been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Company; (iv) any terms of Warrants, Rights, or Units not provided for in the Agreement shall have been established in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Agreement and reflected in appropriate documentation executed and delivered by the Company and the Agent; (v) such Warrants, Rights, or Units shall have been duly executed, authenticated, issued, and delivered in accordance with the provisions of such Agreement; (vi) such Warrants, Rights, or Units do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement binding on the Company; and (vii) such Warrants, Rights, or Units comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company.
The opinions expressed below are limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed for purposes of delivering these opinions expressed herein or any changes in applicable law that may come to our attention after the date the Registration Statement is declared effective.
On the basis of the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, limitations, and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Common Stock to be sold by the Company, including any Common Stock duly issued upon the exchange or conversion of any duly issued preferred stock or debt securities, including the Preferred Stock or Debt Securities offered and issued under the Registration Statement or the exercise of any warrants or rights, including any Warrants or Rights offered and issued under the Registration Statement, upon issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation) against payment therefor as set forth in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or a Prospectus Supplement have been duly authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.
Asset Entities Inc.
April 16, 2024
Page 5
2. The Preferred Stock to be sold by the Company, including any Preferred Stock duly issued upon the exchange or conversion of any duly issued debt securities, including the Debt Securities offered and issued under the Registration Statement or the exercise of any warrants or rights, including any Warrants or Rights offered and issued under the Registration Statement, upon issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation) against payment therefor as set forth in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or a Prospectus Supplement have been duly authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.
3. The Debt Securities to be sold by the Company and issued under the Registration Statement, upon issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation) against payment therefor as set forth in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or a Prospectus Supplement have been duly authorized and will be validly issued.
4. The Warrants, Rights, and Units to be sold by the Company and issued under the Registration Statement, upon issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation) against payment therefor as set forth in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or a Prospectus Supplement have been duly authorized and will be validly issued.
While certain members of this firm are admitted to practice in certain jurisdictions other than Nevada, in rendering the foregoing opinions we have not examined the laws of any jurisdiction other than Nevada. Accordingly, we express no opinion regarding the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction or state, including any federal laws. The opinions we express herein are limited solely to the laws of the State of Nevada, other than the securities laws and regulations of the State of Nevada (as to which we express no opinion).
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and we consent to the reference of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Fennemore Craig, P.C. | |
| Fennemore Craig, P.C. |
TMOR/nmj
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated April 1, 2024, relating to the audit of the consolidated balance sheets of Asset Entities Inc. and its variable interest entity (collectively the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”).
We also consent to the Company’s reference to WWC, P.C., Certified Public Accountants, as experts in accounting and auditing.
| San Mateo, California | /s/ WWC, P.C. |
| April 16, 2024 | WWC, P.C. |
| Certified Public Accountants | |
| PCAOB ID: 1171 |
