Cenntro Inc F-3ASR, filed May 18, 2021
Cenntro Inc. (CENN)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2021
Registration No. 333-_______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED
(Exact Name of Each Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| Australia | 2320 | N/A | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation or organization) |
(Primary standard industrial classification code number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Unit 7, 35-39 William Street
Double Bay
NSW 2028, Australia
+64 9 275 0000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of each registrant’s principal executive offices)
Justin Davis-Rice, Executive Chairman
Unit 7, 35-39 William Street
Double Bay
NSW 2028, Australia
+64 9 275 0000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
David Alan Miller, Esq. Jeffrey M. Gallant, Esq. Eric T. Schwartz, Esq. Graubard Miller The Chrysler Building 405 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10174 Telephone: (212) 818-8800 |
Daniel Simmons, Esq. Mills Oakley Level 7, 151 Clarence Street Sydney, NSW Australia Telephone: +61 2 9121 9073 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If 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, as amended (the “Securities Act”), check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [X]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. 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 an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933
Emerging growth company [X]
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. [ ]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of each Class of Security being registered | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | Amount of Registration Fee (2) | ||||||
| Primary Offering of Securities: | ||||||||
| Ordinary Shares, without par value | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||
| Preference Shares, without par value | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||
| Warrants | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||
| Debt Securities | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||
| Units | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||
| (1) | Omitted pursuant to Form F-3 General Instruction I.C. An unspecified number of securities of each identified class is being registered for possible issuance from time to time at indeterminate prices. The securities being registered hereunder include an indeterminate number of securities that may be issued in primary offerings or upon the exercise, conversion, or exchange of any securities registered hereunder that provide for exercise, conversion, or exchange. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon the conversion or exercise of, or in exchange for, other securities offered hereby or that are offered in combination with other securities offered hereby. |
| (2) | In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) promulgated under the Securities Act, the registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee. |
Prospectus
NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED
Ordinary Shares
Preference Shares
Warrants
Debt Securities
Units
This prospectus provides you with a general description of equity and debt securities that Naked Brand Group Limited may offer and sell, from time to time, individually or in units.
Each time we sell securities we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of any equity or debt securities we offer and the specific manner in which we will offer the equity or debt securities. The prospectus supplement will also contain information, where appropriate, about material United States federal income tax consequences relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the equity or debt securities covered by the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities.
We may sell the securities on a continuous or delayed basis directly to investors, through agents designated from time to time, or to or through underwriters or dealers, among other methods. The prospectus supplement for each offering will describe the specific methods by which we will sell the securities. The prospectus supplement will also set forth the price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from the sale of the securities.
Our ordinary shares trade on the Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, or “Nasdaq,” under the symbol “NAKD.” The last sale price of our ordinary shares on May 17, 2021 was US$0.57 per share.
This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 to read about factors you should consider before buying our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or foreign 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.
Prospectus dated May 18, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We do not take any responsibility for, and cannot provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer to sell the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale thereof is not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus and incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate only as of the respective date of such information, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale or offer to sell hereunder.
To the extent this prospectus contains summaries of the documents referred to herein, you are directed to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed, or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and you may obtain copies of such documents as described below in the section titled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
This prospectus contains references to a number of trademarks which are registered or for which we have pending applications or common law rights. Our major trademark is Frederick’s of Hollywood. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference are listed without the ®, (sm) and (tm) symbols, but we will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensors to these trademarks, service marks and trade names.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC,” using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell or issue any combination of shelf securities in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the shelf securities we may offer. Each time securities are sold by us, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information and, if provided, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. Neither this prospectus nor any prospectus supplement nor any related issuer free writing prospectus shall constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy offered securities in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offering or solicitation. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For a more complete understanding of the offering of the securities, you should refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate the sale of any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement relating to the securities offered.
You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus. You should not assume that the information contained in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may have changed since that date.
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This summary highlights key information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated in this prospectus by reference, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021 (the “Annual Report”), and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information herein and therein. This summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should read the entire prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the information in “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and the related notes thereto, before making an investment decision.
Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus,
| ● | “we,” “us,” “our,” or “our company,” refers to Naked Brand Group Limited, our subsidiaries, and our predecessor operations; | |
| ● | “FOH” refers to FOH Online Corp., our operating subsidiary; and | |
| ● | “Bendon” refers to Bendon Limited, formerly one of our operating subsidiaries. |
Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus, references to dollar amounts mean United States Dollars. On December 20, 2019, we completed a reverse stock split of our ordinary shares, pursuant to which every 100 ordinary shares outstanding as of the effective time of the reverse stock split were combined into one ordinary share. All share and per share information in this prospectus is presented on post-reverse split basis.
Our Company
Our business is operated through our operating subsidiary FOH. Through FOH, we are the exclusive licensee of the Frederick’s of Hollywood global online license, under which we sell Frederick’s of Hollywood intimates products, sleepwear and loungewear products, swimwear and swimwear accessories products, and costume products. We sell our Frederick’s of Hollywood products online at www.fredericks.com.
On January 21, 2021, we announced plans to undertake a transformative restructure in which we would dispose of our bricks-and-mortar operations in order to focus exclusively on our e-commerce business. To that end, we signed a non-binding and non-exclusive term sheet to divest ourself of our Bendon subsidiary, to a group composed of existing management of the Company, including Justin Davis-Rice, the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Anna Johnson, the Chief Executive Officer of Bendon, or the “Bendon Sale.” On April 23, 2021, we held an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, at which our shareholders approved the Bendon Sale. On April 30, 2021, we signed a conditional share sale agreement for the Bendon Sale, or the “Bendon Share Sale Agreement,” and simultaneously consummated the transactions contemplated thereby.
FOH has entered into a services agreement with Bendon Limited whereby Bendon will continue to provide a full range of services to FOH covering selling, marketing, advertising, manufacturing, designing, distribution and logistics, inventory management, e-commerce and website management, customer service and associated MIS-business systems and operational financial support.
Following the divestment of Bendon and having recently raised capital, Naked is in a strong financial position to further leverage and build on its leading e-commerce position in intimate apparel through the addition of synergistic, high growth and high margin e-commerce businesses as part of its new strategy to a pure-play e-commerce leader.
Brands
Since 1946, Frederick’s of Hollywood has set the standard for innovative apparel, introducing the push-up bra, the padded bra, and black lingerie to the U.S. market. The brand’s rich history has led it to become one of the most recognized in the world. Through FOH, we are the exclusive licensee of the Frederick’s of Hollywood global online license, under which we sell Frederick’s of Hollywood intimates products, sleepwear and loungewear products, swimwear and swimwear accessories products, and costume products.
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Our Strategy
Our strategy is to build a leading pure-play e-commerce business in intimate apparel through:
| ● | Leveraging our managements and board’s extensive operational, corporate development and capital market expertise and deep industry knowledge and experience in intimates, apparel and consumer brand building. | |
| ● | Growing and retaining customers, drive sales growth and improve profitability of the FOH business. | |
| ● | Continuing to innovate our business model, products, offerings and platforms. | |
| ● | Investment in brands and technology to strengthen and enhance our customer experience. | |
| ● | Utilizing our demonstrated track record of successful capital raising and advantaged access to growth capital via shelf filing, ATM and registered direct share issuances. |
We intend to pursue accretive, strategic acquisitions with synergistic benefits that complement our business and operations and help us expand our brands, categories, product offerings and geographies.
Recent Developments
COVID-19
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization, or the “WHO,” announced a global health emergency because of a new strain of coronavirus originating in Wuhan, China, COVID-19, and the risks to the international community as the virus spreads globally beyond its point of origin. In March 2020, the WHO classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic, based on the rapid increase in exposure globally. The full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve as of the date of this report. As such, it is uncertain as to the full magnitude that the pandemic will have on the business’ financial condition, liquidity, and future results of operations. Management is actively monitoring the global situation on its financial condition, liquidity, operations, suppliers, industry, and workforce.
As of the time of this filing, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been broad reaching, including impacts to our retail, wholesale and licensing businesses. Throughout the financial period reported and to this date the business has had periods where it has temporarily closed its bricks and mortar stores. Throughout these periods the business has been able to continue to trade through the Bendon Lingerie and Frederick’s of Hollywood online stores and has been able to fulfil online orders from the New Zealand and U.S. warehouses. To mitigate the significant impact on cashflow the business was able to work with suppliers to get support with delayed payments and to negotiate support from the majority of landlords to provide rent abatements through the periods of closure. Employees agreed to work reduced hours for the initial key shutdown periods. For the Bendon part of the business, we were able to apply for Government wage subsidies from the New Zealand and Australian governments. At the date of this report, we had received $2.0m in subsidies from the New Zealand government and $0.8m from the Australian Government. The business was able to receive support from the Bank of New Zealand, or “BNZ,” to defer loan repayments and has subsequently repaid this loan and closed the facility. The impact of COVID-19 in Asia initially delayed stock flow due to temporary factory closures, however, the business was able to work with suppliers to prioritise and reschedule orders.
Management and the directors continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis to minimize the total impact to the group.
Bendon Sale
On April 30, 2021, we signed the Bendon Share Sale Agreement with JADR Holdings Pty Limited as trustee for the DR Family Trust No 2, an entity affiliated with Justin Davis-Rice, and Matana Intimates Holdings Trustee Limited as trustee for the Matana Intimates Holding Trust, an entity affiliated with Anna Johnson, who we refer to, collectively, as the “Buyers,” and simultaneously consummated the Bendon Sale contemplated thereby. Pursuant to the Bendon Share Sale Agreement, we sold all of the issued share capital in Bendon together with any accrued rights free from encumbrances for the consideration described below on the terms and conditions set out in the Bendon Share Sale Agreement. The Bendon Sale had an economic close of January 31, 2021, or the “Accounts Date,” notwithstanding that closing of the Transaction, or the “Completion,” occurred on April 30, 2021.
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Because the Buyers are related parties of ours, we adopted strict governance and information protocols to ensure independent consideration and assessment of the Buyers’ proposal and the Bendon Share Sale Agreement. Our independent directors formed an independent committee of the board of directors, which considered, on our behalf, the Bendon Sale. The consideration paid for the share capital of Bendon was determined through negotiations between the independent committee and the Buyers.
The key terms of the Bendon Share Sale Agreement are as follows:
Consideration. The consideration paid by the Buyers was NZ$1.00 as adjusted based on the target inventory amount of NZ$18.2 million and by a true up adjustment for estimated Net Cash/(Debt) and Working Capital as at the Accounts Date. The inventory adjustment resulted in a payment by us to Bendon in the amount of NZ$4.8 million. The Net Cash/(Debt) and Working Capital adjustments are to be prepared within 30 business days after Completion.
Exit Event Proceeds. If the Buyers or Mr. Davis-Rice and Ms. Johnson agree to sell the shares in Bendon or its business within three years following Completion, we will be entitled to the following percentage of the net proceeds of the sale: in the first year following Completion, 75%; in the second year following Completion, 50%; and in the third year following Completion, 25%.
Profit share. We are entitled to a tiered percentage of net profits of Bendon and the entities controlled by Bendon, or the “Bendon Group,” for three years commencing on July 1, 2021, being in: the first year, 30%; the second year, 20%; and the third year, 10%. The net profits are to be calculated on a cumulative basis so that any losses from the first or second year are offset against any profits in a subsequent year.
Forgiveness of the Intra Group Loans. We forgave all inter-company debt owing by the Bendon Group to us and our subsidiaries other than the Bendon Group effective as of January 30, 2021 (which is approximately NZ$43.6 million).
Naked Facility. We will provide Bendon with a 5 year loan of up to NZ$7 million, or the “Naked Facility,” at an initial interest rate per annum of 5% and, following Bendon obtaining additional external senior debt which the Buyers and Bendon are proposing to raise after Completion, an interest rate of 50 basis points above the rate of this senior debt. The Naked Facility will also be subordinated to this senior debt.
Costs. We agreed to pay up to NZ$300,000 of the Buyers’ and Bendon’s costs in relation to the Bendon Sale, which was agreed in exchange for the Buyers’ agreeing for the term sheet to be entered into on a non-exclusive basis.
FOH Services Agreement. FOH, our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a management services agreement, or the “FOH Services Agreement,” with Bendon pursuant to which Bendon will provide certain management services.
As a result of the Bendon Sale, our sole operating subsidiary is FOH. Through FOH, we are the exclusive licensee of the Frederick’s of Hollywood global online license, under which we sell Frederick’s of Hollywood intimates products, sleepwear and loungewear products, swimwear and swimwear accessories products, and costume products.
Management Changes
On January 21, 2021, our board of directors appointed Justin Davis-Rice as our Chief Executive Officer, replacing Anna Johnson. Ms. Johnson remained the Chief Executive Officer of Bendon. In connection with his appointment, our board of directors, upon the recommendation of the compensation committee, granted to Mr. Davis-Rice phantom warrants with a strike price equal to $0.37 (the 20-day volume-weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares). The phantom warrants will vest in three tranches, with the first tranche vesting immediately, the second tranche vesting on July 21, 2021 and the third tranche vesting on January 21, 2022. Each tranche will cover 1.5% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares as of the date of vesting and will expire three years after its vesting date. Upon exercise, the Company will net cash settle the phantom warrants. As a result, no Ordinary Shares will be issued.
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On January 18, 2021, our board of directors appointed Simon Tripp as a director of the Company. Mr. Tripp replaced Paul Hayes, who resigned as a director of the Company on the same day.
On April 19, 2021 Mark Ziirsen was appointed as Chief Financial Officer, replacing Cheryl Durose. See Item 6 of this Annual Report, “Directors, Senior Management and Employees,” for biographical information about Mr. Ziirsen.
Nasdaq Compliance
On April 26, 2021, we received a notice from Nasdaq’s Listing Qualifications Department stating that, for the 30 consecutive business days ending April 23, 2021, the closing bid price for the Ordinary Shares had been below the minimum of $1.00 per share required for continued inclusion on the Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). The notification letter stated that we would be afforded 180 calendar days (until October 25, 2021) to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. In order to regain compliance, the closing bid price for the Ordinary Shares must be at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days. The notification letter also stated that in the event we do not regain compliance within the 180-day period, we may be eligible for additional time.
The Nasdaq notification did not have any immediate effect on the listing of the Ordinary Shares, and the Ordinary Shares continue to trade uninterrupted under the symbol “NAKD”. Naked management intends to actively monitor the bid price for the Ordinary Shares and will consider all available options to regain compliance with the Nasdaq minimum bid price requirement.
Financing Transactions
February 2021 Private Placement
On February 24, 2021, we entered into a securities purchase agreement, or the “February 2021 SPA,” with certain accredited investors, pursuant to which we agreed to sell in a private placement an aggregate of US$100,000,000 of units, each unit consisting of one Ordinary Share and one warrant to purchase Ordinary Shares, or the “February 2021 Warrants.” On March 10, 2021, we entered into an amendment to the February 2021 SPA, which reduced the price per unit sold under the February 2021 SPA and made certain changes to the form of the February 2021 Warrant to, among other things, reduce the initial exercise price and limit the number of ordinary shares which may be issued upon a Black-Scholes value cashless exercise of the February 2021 Warrant (as more fully described below), by increasing the floor price specified in the warrants, lowering the underlying price used in the calculation of the Black-Scholes value per warrant and establishing a maximum number of Ordinary Shares that may be issued under the warrants. On the same day, we consummated the sale of the units pursuant to the February 2021 SPA. The purchase price per unit was US$0.85, resulting in the issuance of an aggregate of 117,647,059 Units (representing an aggregate of 117,647,059 Ordinary Shares and 117,647,059 February 2021 Warrants). We granted a financing rebate to the investors, resulting in net proceeds to us, after offering expenses, of approximately US$94.9 million.
The February 2021 Warrants have an exercise price of US$0.935 per share and will expire on March 10, 2026. The February 2021 Warrants contain a Black-Scholes cashless exercise feature, which permits the February 2021 Warrants to be exercised on a cashless basis for a number of Ordinary Shares equal to the Black-Scholes value per share, multiplied by the number of Ordinary Shares as to which the warrant is being exercised, divided by the closing bid price on Nasdaq as of two trading days prior to the exercise date, as reported by Bloomberg (but not less than a specified floor price). For this purpose, the Black-Scholes value per share is calculated using an underlying price equal to US$0.95 (as may be adjusted for stock dividends, subdivisions, or combinations); a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate; a strike price equal to the $0.935 exercise price; an expected volatility equal to 135%; and a deemed remaining term of five years (regardless of the actual remaining term of the February 2021 Warrant). Accordingly, the Black-Scholes value calculation will not change as a result of future changes in the stock price, risk-free interest rate, volatility or remaining life of the February 2021 Warrants. As a result, the number of Ordinary Shares issued upon exercise of the February 2021 Warrants may substantially exceed 117,647,059 shares. The February 2021 Warrants may not be exercised to the extent the holder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own more than 9.9% of the Ordinary Shares outstanding on the closing date after giving effect to such exercise. Further, in no event will we be required to issue upon exercise of the warrants more than a fixed maximum number of Ordinary Shares specified in the February 2021 Warrants.
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As of the date of this Annual Report, the February 2021 Warrants have been exercised as to 85,468,897 Ordinary Shares, pursuant to the Black-Scholes cashless exercise provision, for an aggregate issuance of 142,842,302 Ordinary Shares. These amounts include exercises as to 17,106,545 shares, for which notices of exercise have been received but the shares have not yet been issued, which will result in the issuance 28,055,275 ordinary shares.
ATM Offerings
On February 24, 2021, we entered into an equity distribution agreement, or the “February EDA,” with Maxim Group LLC, or “Maxim,” pursuant to which we may sell, from time to time, through Maxim, Ordinary Shares having an aggregate offering price of up to US$99,500,000. Sales of Ordinary Shares in the offering, if any, will be made by any method permitted that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Maxim is not required to sell any specific amount but will act as our exclusive sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between Maxim and us. We have no obligation to sell any of the ordinary shares under the February EDA and may at any time suspend solicitation and offers under the February EDA. As of April 30, 2021, we sold an aggregate of 69,269,818 ordinary shares pursuant to the February EDA, for gross proceeds of US$69,120,474 (NZ$96,429,232) and net proceeds of US$67,046,860 (NZ$93,536,355), after payment to Maxim of an aggregate of US$2,073,614 (NZ$2,892,877) in commissions.
In addition, we conducted two prior “at the market” offerings through Maxim. On October 19, 2020, we entered into an equity distribution agreement with Maxim, the “October EDA,” pursuant to which we sold an aggregate of 107,036,117 ordinary shares, for gross proceeds of US$49,999,716 (NZ$69,754,068) and net proceeds of US$48,499,724 (NZ$67,661,446), after payment to Maxim of an aggregate of US$1,499,991 (NZ$2,092,622) in commissions. In connection with the execution of the February EDA, we terminated the offering under the October EDA. On August 20, 2020, we entered into an equity distribution agreement with Maxim, as amended on September 25, 2020, or the “August EDA,” pursuant to which we sold an aggregate of 138,252,413 ordinary shares, for gross proceeds of US$17,998,700 (NZ$25,109,793) and net proceeds of US$17,458,739 (NZ$24,356,500), after payment to Maxim of an aggregate of US$539,961 (NZ$753,294) in commissions. In connection with the commencement of sales under the October EDA, we terminated the offering under the August EDA.
Repayment of Credit Facility
Through February 10, 2021, we were party to a facility agreement, originally dated June 27, 2016, as amended from time to time, by and among Bendon, as borrower, us and certain subsidiaries and affiliates of ours, as guarantors, and the BNZ, as lender. Under the facility agreement, BNZ had made available to us and our subsidiaries a revolving credit facility and an instrument facility. On February 10, 2021, we paid approximately US$10,394,000 (NZ$14,500,000) to BNZ, which constituted repayment in full of all amounts due under the facility with BNZ, and the facility was terminated.
Registered Direct Offering
On February 1, 2021, we closed on the sale of 29,415,000 ordinary shares in a public offering to certain institutional investors at a price of $1.70 per share, for gross proceeds of US$50,005,500. Maxim acted as the sole placement agent in connection with the Offering. The net proceeds to the Company from the offering were approximately US$46,900,000 (NZ$65,429,688), after deducting the placement agent’s fees of US$3,00,330 and other estimated offering expenses.
Corporate Information
Our principal office and registered office is located at Unit 7, 35-39 William Street, Double Bay, NSW 2028, Australia, and our telephone number is ++64 9 275 0000. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Graubard Miller, our U.S. counsel, located at The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10174. Our corporate website is located at www.nakedbrands.com. The information on our website shall not be deemed part of this prospectus.
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Emerging Growth Company
We are an “emerging growth company”, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”). As an emerging growth company, we are eligible, and have elected, to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These include, but are not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation (to the extent applicable to a foreign private issuer).
We could remain an emerging growth company until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of our initial public offering. However, if our annual gross revenue is US$1.07 billion or more, or our non-convertible debt issued within a three year period exceeds US$1 billion, or the market value of our ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million on the last day of the second fiscal quarter of any given fiscal year, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the last day of that fiscal year.
Foreign Private Issuer
We are a “foreign private issuer” as defined under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act, including the proxy rules, which impose certain disclosure and procedural requirements for proxy solicitations. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as frequently or as promptly as domestic U.S. companies with securities registered under the Exchange Act, and we are not required to comply with Regulation FD, which imposes certain restrictions on the selective disclosure of material information. In addition, our officers, directors, and principal shareholders will be exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules under the Exchange Act with respect to their purchases and sales of our ordinary shares.
The Nasdaq Listing Rules allow foreign private issuers, such as us, to follow home country corporate governance practices (in our case Australian) in lieu of the otherwise applicable Nasdaq corporate governance requirements. In accordance with this exception, we follow Australian corporate governance practices in lieu of certain of the Nasdaq corporate governance standards, as more fully described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” on page 32.
Risks Affecting Our Company
In evaluating an investment in our securities, you should carefully read this prospectus and especially consider the factors incorporated by reference in the section titled “Risk Factors” commencing on page 8.
The Securities We May Offer
We may offer ordinary shares, preference shares, warrants, debt securities and/or units, in one or more offerings and in any combination. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. A prospectus supplement, which we will provide each time we offer securities, will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of these securities.
Ordinary Shares
Each of holder of our ordinary shares is entitled to receive notice of and to be present, to vote and to speak at general meetings. Subject to the constitution of our company (“Constitution”) and to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares or class of shares, on a show of hands each holder of ordinary shares present has one vote and, on a poll, one vote for each fully paid share held, and for each partly paid share, a fraction of a vote equivalent to the proportion to which the share has been paid up. Voting may be in person or by proxy, attorney or representative. Two shareholders must be present to constitute a quorum for a general meeting and no business may be transacted at any meeting except the election of a chair and the adjournment of the meeting unless a quorum is present when the meeting proceeds to business.
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Subject to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“Corporations Act”) and any preferential rights of any outstanding preference shares, holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to receive ratably the dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of legally available funds. If there is a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, holders of our ordinary shares would be entitled to share ratably in our net assets legally available for distribution to shareholders after the payment of all our debts and liabilities and any preferential rights of any outstanding preferred shares.
Preference Shares
Subject to the Corporations Act, our Constitution authorizes the issuance of preference shares, including preference shares which are, at the option of the Company or the holder, convertible into ordinary shares. Each preference share will confer on the holder the right to receive a preferential dividend, participate in and/or receive priority payments upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, and receive a bonus issue or capitalization of profits, each to the extent determined by our board of directors. Preference shares will have limited voting rights. We have summarized some of the general terms and provisions of the preference shares that we may issue in “Description of Capital Shares.” A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any issue of preference shares offered from time to time, and may supplement or change the terms outlined below.
Warrants
We may issue warrants for the purchase of ordinary shares or preference shares or any of the other securities that may be sold under this prospectus, or any combination of these securities. We have summarized some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may issue in “Description of Warrants.” A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any warrants offered from time to time, and may supplement or change the terms outlined below.
Debt Securities
Subject to any covenants we may offer any combination of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The subordinated debt securities generally will be entitled to payment only after payment of our senior debt. Senior debt securities will be unsubordinated obligations and will rank equal with all our other unsubordinated debt. Subordinated debt securities will be paid only if all payments due under our senior indebtedness, including any outstanding senior debt securities, have been made. We may issue the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities under separate indentures between us, as issuer, and the trustee or trustees identified in a prospectus supplement. We have summarized some of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may issue in “Description of Debt Securities.” A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any debt securities offered from time to time, and may supplement or change the terms outlined below.
Units
We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other classes of securities issued by us as 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. We have summarized some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may issue in “Description of Units.” A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any units offered from time to time, and may supplement or change the terms outlined below.
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before investing in us, you should carefully consider the risk factors described under “Risk Factors” in the documents incorporated by reference herein, including in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC, together with the other information included in this prospectus and incorporated by reference herein from our filings with the SEC, as well as any risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in any prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering, together with all of the other information included in such prospectus supplement and incorporated by reference therein. If any of such risks or uncertainties occurs, our business, financial condition, and operating results could be materially and adversely affected. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may materially and adversely affect our business operations. As a result, the trading price of our ordinary shares could decline and you could lose all or a part of your investment.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements contained in this prospectus that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predicts,” “project,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include, among other things, statements relating to:
| ● | our restructuring initiatives; | |
| ● | expectations regarding industry trends and the size and growth rates of addressable markets; | |
| ● | our business plan and our growth strategies, including plans for acquisitions and expansion to new markets and new products; and | |
| ● | expectations for seasonal trends. |
These statements are not assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on current expectations, assumptions, and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been assumed or anticipated. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) that may cause our expectations, assumptions or beliefs to be inaccurate or otherwise cause our actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those risk factors described or incorporated by reference under the heading “Risk Factors” and those risks described from time to time in our filings with the SEC, as well as the following risks:
| ● | our reliance on our Frederick’s of Hollywood brand. | |
| ● | our ability to protect or preserve our brand image and proprietary rights; | |
| ● | our ability to satisfy changing consumer preferences; | |
| ● | an economic downturn affecting discretionary consumer spending; | |
| ● | our ability to manage our growth effectively; | |
| ● | the success of our business restructuring; | |
| ● | our ability to raise any necessary capital; | |
| ● | poor performance during our peak season affecting our operating results for the full year; | |
| ● | our ability to manage our product distribution given our reliance on third-party distribution/fulfilment; | |
| ● | the success of our marketing programs; | |
| ● | the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our expectations, assumptions or beliefs otherwise prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
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Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, debt repayment, or acquisitions. In the event that any net proceeds are not immediately applied, we may temporarily hold them as cash, deposit them in banks or invest them in cash equivalents or securities. We have not allocated any portion of the net proceeds for any particular use at this time. Specific information concerning the use of proceeds from the sale of any securities will be included in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular offering in which they are sold.
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The specific transaction or terms upon which securities covered by this prospectus may be issued is not known at this time. Each time we sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain certain specific information about the terms of that offering. In the event that there is substantial disparity between the public offering price of the securities to be issued and the effective cost to directors or senior management or affiliated persons of equity securities acquired by them during the last five years, or which they have the right to acquire, a comparison of the public contribution in the proposed public offering and the effective cash contributions of such persons, as well as the amount and percentage of immediate dilution resulting from the offering, will be contained in the prospectus supplement. We will also disclose the amount and percentage of immediate dilution resulting from the offering, computed as the difference between the offering price per share and the net book value per share for the equivalent class of security, as of the most recent balance sheet date.
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CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
The following table sets forth our capitalization at January 31, 2021 on an historical basis and on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to the transaction described in the notes table.
You should read this table together with our financial statements and the related notes thereto, as well as “Management’s Discussions and Analysis of Financial condition and Results of Operations” and the other financial information incorporated by reference in this prospectus from our SEC filings, including our Annual Report. The information presented in the capitalization table below is unaudited.
| In Thousands of NZ$ and US$ | As at January 31, 2021 (Historical) | As at January 31, 2021 (Pro Forma)(1)(2) | ||||||||||||||
| NZ$ | US$ (3) | NZ$ | US$ (3) | |||||||||||||
| Borrowings | 17,495 | 12,540 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Share Capital | 338,498 | 242,635 | 633,146 | 453,839 | ||||||||||||
| Accumulated Losses | (244,941 | ) | (175,574 | ) | (245,505 | ) | (175,978 | ) | ||||||||
| Reserves | (4,366 | ) | (3,130 | ) | (4,366 | ) | (3,130 | ) | ||||||||
| Total Capitalization | 106,686 | 76,473 | 383,275 | 274,731 | ||||||||||||
| (1) | The pro forma information reflects the following transactions: |
| ● | On February 1, 2021, we closed on the sale of 29,415,000 ordinary shares in a public offering to certain institutional investors at a price of $1.70 per share, for gross proceeds of US$50,005,500. Maxim acted as the sole placement agent in connection with the Offering. The net proceeds to the Company from the offering were approximately US$46,900,000 (NZ$65,429,688), after deducting the placement agent’s fees of US$3,000,330 and other estimated offering expenses. Gross proceed less agents fees of approximately, US$47.0 million was taken to Share Capital with the expense of US$0.1 million impacting Accumulated Losses. | |
| ● | On February 10, 2021, we paid approximately US$10,394,000 (NZ$14,500,000) to BNZ, which constituted repayment in full of all amounts due under the facility with BNZ, and the facility was terminated. | |
| ● | On February 25, 2021, we exchanged the Prior Note issued in April 2020 for 4,002,789 ordinary shares. The table reflects the exchange of notes at the carrying value of US$2,152,000 (NZ$3,002,000) as at 31 January, 2021. This had the effect of reducing Borrowings and increasing Share Capital. | |
| ● | On March 10, 2021, we consummated the sale of $100,000,000 of units pursuant to the February 2021 SPA. The purchase price per unit was US$0.85, resulting in the issuance of an aggregate of 117,647,059 Units (representing an aggregate of 117,647,059 ordinary shares and 117,647,059 February 2021 Warrants). We granted a financing rebate to the investors, resulting in net proceeds to us, after offering expenses, of approximately US$94.9 million (NZ$132.4 million) with the effect of increasing Share Capital by that amount. As of May 14, 2021, the February 2021 Warrants have been exercised as to 68,362,352 Ordinary Shares, pursuant to the Black-Scholes cashless exercise provision, for an aggregate issuance of 114,787,027 ordinary shares. These amounts exclude exercises as to 17,106,545 shares, for which notices of exercise have been received but the shares have not yet been issued, which will result in the issuance 28,055,275 ordinary shares. The financial liability associated with the warrants is yet to be determined. When recognized, there will be no material net impact on the table above, as any impact will have equal, but opposite effects, on each of Share Capital and Accumulated Losses. |
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| ● | Through May 14, 2021, pursuant to the February EDA, we sold an aggregate of 69,269,818 ordinary shares, for gross proceeds of US$69.1 million (NZ$96.4 million) and net proceeds of US$67.0 million (NZ$93.5 million), after payment to Maxim of an aggregate of US$2.1million (NZ$2.9 million) in commissions. As a result, Share Capital increased by the value of the net proceeds of US$67.0 million. |
| (2) | The pro forma information excludes the following transactions: |
| ● | On April 30, 2021, we signed the Bendon Share Sale Agreement with JADR Holdings Pty Limited as trustee for the DR Family Trust No 2, an entity affiliated with Justin Davis-Rice, and Matana Intimates Holdings Trustee Limited as trustee for the Matana Intimates Holding Trust, an entity affiliated with Anna Johnson, and simultaneously consummated the Bendon Sale contemplated thereby. Pursuant to the Bendon Share Sale Agreement, we sold all of the issued share capital in Bendon together with any accrued rights free from encumbrances for the consideration described below on the terms and conditions set out in the Bendon Share Sale Agreement. The Bendon Sale had an economic close of January 31, 2021 notwithstanding that closing of the Bendon Sale occurred on April 30, 2021. | |
| Interim Bendon Sale consideration is as follows: |
| NZ$ | US$ | |||||||
| Inventory adjustment payment | 4.8m | 3.4m | ||||||
| Intercompany debt forgiveness | 43.6m | 31.3m | ||||||
| Buyers costs | 0.3m | 0.2m | ||||||
| BNZ loan repayment | 14.5m | 10.4m | ||||||
| Total interim consideration | 63.2m | 45.3m | ||||||
| The effect of the Bendon Sale has not been included in the pro forma information because completion accounting has not been finalised and is, amongst other things, subject to finalisation of a completion adjustment for actual Net Cash/(Debt) and actual Net Working Capital at the Accounts Date (January 31, 2021). The completion adjustments are to be prepared within 30 days after Completion (April 30, 2021). If no further adjustments resulted from the final completion accounting or purchase accounting then the Accumulated Losses in the able above would be increased by the amount of the interim consideration. |
| (3) | In this prospectus certain New Zealand dollar amounts have been translated into United States dollars at the rate as at January 31, 2021 of NZ$1 = US$0.7168. Such translations should not be construed as representations that the New Zealand dollar amounts represent, or have been or could be converted into, United States dollars at that or any other rate. |
The foregoing table does not take into account the conversion or exercise of the convertible securities and warrants set forth in “Description of Capital Shares—Ordinary Shares.”
You should read this table in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements as at and for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL SHARES
General
Our corporate affairs are principally governed by our Constitution and the Corporations Act. The rights and restrictions attaching to the ordinary shares are derived through a combination of our Constitution, the common law applicable to Australia, the Corporations Act and other applicable law. A general summary of some of the rights and restrictions attaching to our ordinary shares are summarized below.
Australia does not have a limit on the authorized share capital that may be issued and does not recognize the concept of par value. Subject to restrictions on the issue of securities in our Constitution, the Corporations Act and any other applicable law, we may at any time issue shares and grant options on any terms, with the rights and restrictions and for the consideration that our board of directors determine. The directors may decide the persons to whom, and the terms on which, shares are issued or options are granted as well as the rights and restrictions that attach to those shares or options.
Ordinary Shares
As of May 14, 2021, 781,704,296 ordinary shares are issued and outstanding, which does not include:
| ● | approximately 32,178,161 ordinary shares underlying the February 2021 Warrants. This amount includes exercises as to 17,106,545 shares, for which notices of exercise have been received but the shares have not yet been issued, which will result in the issuance 28,055,275 ordinary shares. However, the actual number of shares issuable upon exercise of the February 2021 Warrants may be substantially more than the foregoing amount, depending, among other things, on whether the February 2021 Warrants are exercised through a Black-Scholes cashless exercise. In such event, the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the February 2021 Warrants would depend on the market price of the ordinary shares at the time of exercise. We cannot predict the market price of our ordinary shares at any future date, and therefore, we are unable to accurately forecast or predict the total amount of shares that ultimately may be issued; and | |
| ● | 535,987 ordinary shares underlying our outstanding warrants (other than the July Purchase Warrant). |
Dividend Rights
Subject to the Corporations Act, ordinary shareholders are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by the directors. If the directors determine that a final or interim dividend is payable, it is (subject to the terms of issue on any shares or class of shares) paid on all shares proportionate to the amount for the time being paid on each share. Dividends may be paid by cheque, electronic transfer or any other method as the board determines.
The directors have the power to capitalize and distribute the whole or part of the amount from time to time standing to the credit of any reserve account or otherwise available for distribution to shareholders. The capitalization and distribution must be in the same proportions which the shareholders would be entitled to receive if distributed by way of a dividend.
Subject to the Corporations Act and the Nasdaq rules, the directors may pay a dividend out of any fund or reserve or out of profits derived from any source.
Voting Rights
Each of our ordinary shareholders is entitled to receive notice of and to be present, to vote and to speak at general meetings. Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares, on a show of hands each ordinary shareholder present has one vote and, on a poll, one vote for each fully paid share held, and for each partly paid share, a fraction of a vote equivalent to the proportion to which the share has been paid up. Voting may be in person or by proxy, attorney or representative.
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Two shareholders must be present to constitute a quorum for a general meeting and no business may be transacted at any meeting except the election of a chair and the adjournment of the meeting, unless a quorum is present when the meeting proceeds to business.
Variation of Class Rights
The Corporations Act provides that if a company has a constitution that sets out the procedure for varying or cancelling rights attached to shares in a class of shares, those rights may be varied or cancelled only in accordance with the procedure.
The rights attached to ordinary shares may only be varied with the consent in writing of members holding at least three-quarters of the shares of that class, or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of shares of that class.
Preemptive Rights
Ordinary shareholders do not have preemptive rights.
Preference Shares
As of May 14, 2021, there are no preference shares issued or outstanding. If issued, the preference shares will have such rights and preferences as determined by our board of directors in accordance with the Corporations Act, our Constitution and set forth in the terms of issue for the shares. The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of preference shares that we may issue from time to time. Additional or different terms of the preference shares will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any subscription agreement that describes the terms of the issue of preference shares we are offering before the issuance of the preference shares. The summaries of material provisions of the preference shares are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the Corporations Act, all of the provisions of our Constitution and the subscription agreement applicable to a particular issue of preference shares. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements, as well as the complete agreement and constitution that contains the terms of the issue of preference shares.
General
We may issue preference shares including preference shares which are, at the option of us or holder, liable to be redeemed or converted to ordinary shares. Each preference share confers on the holder the right to: (i) receive a preferential dividend, in priority to the payment of any dividend on the ordinary shares, at a rate (which may be fixed or variable) and on the basis (including whether cumulative or not) decided by the directors at the time of issue; (ii) participate with the ordinary shares in profits and assets of the Company, including on a winding up, if and to the extent the directors decide at the time of issue; (iii) in a winding up and on redemption, payment in priority to the ordinary shares of: (A) the amount of any dividend accrued but unpaid on the share at the date of winding up or the date of redemption; and (B) any additional amount specified in the terms of issue; (iv) to the extent directors may decide at the time of issue, a bonus issue or capitalization of profits in favour of holders of those shares only; and (v) vote at any general meeting, but only in certain limited circumstances.
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of preference shares will describe the terms of that issue of preference shares and the price or prices at which we will offer the shares of that issue of preference shares. The description may include:
| ● | the title of the issue of preference shares and the number of shares offered; | |
| ● | the preferential dividend rate, the terms and conditions relating to the payment of dividends on the preference shares; |
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| ● | whether the preference shares are redeemable, and the terms and conditions relating to any such redemption; | |
| ● | whether the preference shares are convertible into ordinary shares, and the terms and conditions relating to any such conversion; and | |
| ● | any liquidation preference of the preference shares. |
Voting Rights
Holders of preference shares generally will have no voting rights except as set forth below. On each matter on which holders of preference shares are entitled to vote, each preference share will be entitled to one vote, or will be entitled to the number of votes specified in the terms of issue for the share.
Preference shares may vote at a general meeting only in the following circumstances: (i) on a proposal to reduce the share capital of the Company, or that would affect the rights attached to the preference share, or to wind up the Company or for the disposal of the whole of the property, business, and undertaking of our company, (ii) on a resolution to approve the terms of a buy-back agreement, (iii) during the period in which dividends on any preference shares are in arrears, (iv) during the winding up of our company, and (v) in other circumstances as required by the listing rules of Nasdaq or another exchange that is our primary stock exchange.
Dividend Rights
Holders of our preference shares are entitled to receive a preferential dividend, in priority to the payment of any dividend on the ordinary shares, at a rate (which may be fixed or variable) and on the basis (including whether cumulative or not) decided by our board of directors at the time of issue. Subject to the Corporations Act and the rules of Nasdaq, the directors may pay a dividend out of any fund or reserve or out of profits derived from any source.
The directors may decide at the time of issue to designate a bonus issue or to capitalize our company’s profits in favor of the holders of preference shares only. The bonus issue, or the capitalization, must be in the same proportions which the shareholders would be entitled to receive if distributed by way of a dividend.
Conversion and Redemption Rights
The board of directors may decide at the time of issue to designate an issue of preference shares as redeemable. Preference shares may be convertible into our ordinary shares, as and if designated by the board of directors at the time of issue.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the holders preference shares may be entitled to participate with the ordinary shares in the profits and assets of our company. The holders of the preference shares will be entitled to payment in priority to the ordinary shares of the amount of any accrued but unpaid dividend or any other additional amount specified in the terms of issue.
Constitution and Corporations Act
The summary below relates to our Constitution as currently in effect. The summary below is of the key provisions of our Constitution and does not purport to be a summary of all of the provisions thereof or of all relevant provisions of Australian law governing the management and regulation of Australian companies.
Incorporation
We were incorporated in Australia on May 11, 2017 under the Corporations Act with company registration number ACN 619 054 938. We are an Australian public limited company.
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Objects and Purposes
Our Constitution grants us full power and authority to exercise any power, take any action or engage in any conduct which the Corporations Act permits a company limited by shares to exercise, take or engage in.
Directors
There must be a minimum of three directors and a maximum of 12 directors unless our shareholders in general meeting resolves otherwise. The directors may set a maximum number of directors less than the current maximum in accordance with the Corporations Act and the Nasdaq rules. Where required by the Corporations Act or Stock Market Rules, we must hold an election of directors each year. No director, other than the managing director, may hold office without re-election beyond the third annual general meeting following the meeting at which the director was last elected or re-elected. A director appointed to fill a casual vacancy, who is not a managing director, holds office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting following his or her appointment. If there would otherwise not be a vacancy, and no director is required to retire, then the director who has been longest in office since last being elected must retire. If a number of directors were elected on the same day, the directors to retire are (in default of agreement between them) determined by ballot.
Our Constitution provides that no person shall be disqualified from the office of director or prevented by such office from contracting with us, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on our behalf in which any director shall be in any way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to us for any profit realised by or arising in connection with any such contract or transaction by reason of such director holding office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established. A director shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is interested provided that the nature of the interest of any director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon. However, a director who has a material personal interest in a matter that is being considered by the directors must not be present at a meeting while the matter is being considered nor vote on the matter, except where permitted by the Corporations Act.
Each director is entitled to remuneration from our company for his or her services as decided by the directors but the total amount provided to all directors for their services as directors must not exceed in aggregate in any financial year the amount fixed by us in general meeting. The remuneration of an executive director must not include a commission on, or a percentage of, profits or operating revenue. Remuneration may be provided in the manner that the directors decide, including by way of non-cash benefits. There is also provision for directors to be paid extra remuneration (as determined by the directors) if they devote special attention to our business or otherwise perform services which are regarded as being outside of their ordinary duties as directors or, at the request of the directors, engage in any journey on our business. Directors are also entitled to be paid all travelling and other expenses they incur in attending to our affairs, including attending and returning from general meetings or board meetings, or meetings of any committee engaged in our business.
Directors also may exercise all the powers of the company to borrow or raise money, to charge any of the company’s property or business or any of its uncalled capital, and to issue debentures or give any security for a debt, liability or obligation of the company or of any other person.
General Meetings
A general meeting of shareholders may be called by a directors’ resolution or as otherwise provided in the Corporations Act. The Corporations Act requires the directors to call a general meeting on the request of shareholders with at least 5% of the vote that may be cast at the general meeting. Shareholders with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at a general meeting may also call, and arrange to hold, a general meeting themselves. In addition, where it is impracticable to call the meeting in any other way, the Court may order a meeting of our members to be called.
The Corporations Act requires at least 21 clear days of notice to be given for a general meeting. Notice of a general meeting must be given to each person who, at the time of giving the notice, is a member, director or auditor of ours, or is entitled to a share because of the death of a shareholder (and who has satisfied the directors of his or her right to be registered as the holder of, or to transfer, the shares).
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The notice of meeting must include the date and time of the meeting, the location, an electronic address, planned business for the meeting, information about any proposed special resolutions and information about proxy votes.
Changes in Capital
Australia does not have a limit on the authorized share capital that may be issued and do not recognize the concept of par value under Australian law.
Indemnity
We must indemnify our current and past directors and other executive officers on a full indemnity basis and to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liabilities incurred by the director or officer as a result of their holding office or a related body corporate.
We may also, to the extent permitted by law, purchase and maintain insurance, or pay or agree to pay a premium for insurance, for each director and officer against any liability incurred by the director or officer as a result of their holding office or a related body corporate.
Disposal of assets
The Corporations Act does not specifically preclude a company from disposing of its assets, or a significant portion of its assets. Subject to any other provision which may apply (such as those provisions relating to related party transactions summarized above), a company may generally deal with its assets as it sees fit without seeking shareholder approval.
Rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders
There are no specific limitations in the Corporations Act which restrict the acquisition, ownership or disposal of shares in an Australian company by non-resident or foreign shareholder. The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) regulates investment in Australian companies and may restrict the acquisition, ownership and disposal of our shares by non-resident or foreign shareholders.
Exchange Act Registration; Listing of our Securities
Our ordinary shares are registered under the Exchange Act and trade on Nasdaq under the symbol “NAKD.” The last sale price of our ordinary shares on May 17, 2021 was US$0.57 per share. As of the date of this prospectus, no other class of securities that we may offer hereunder is listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system.
Our Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our ordinary shares is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. The transfer agent and registrar for any issue of preference shares will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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We may issue warrants for the purchase of ordinary or preference shares or any of the other securities that may be sold under this prospectus, or any combination of these securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between a warrant agent and us. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may issue from time to time. Additional or different terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part of, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant agreement that describes the terms of the series of warrants we are offering before the issuance of those warrants. The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the warrant agreement applicable to a particular series of warrants. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements, as well as the complete warrant agreement that contains the terms of the series of warrants.
General
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of those warrants and the price or prices at which will offer the warrants. The description may include:
| ● | the title of the warrants; | |
| ● | the aggregate number of warrants offered; | |
| ● | the designation and/or terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants; | |
| ● | if applicable, the designation and/or terms of the securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each security; | |
| ● | if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable; | |
| ● | the amount and price of securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant; | |
| ● | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants commence and expire; | |
| ● | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time; | |
| ● | whether the warrants represented by the warrant certificates or, if applicable, the securities that may be issued upon exercise of the warrants, will be issued in registered or bearer form; | |
| ● | if applicable, information relating to book-entry procedures; | |
| ● | if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. Federal income tax considerations | |
| ● | anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any; | |
| ● | redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants; and | |
| ● | any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. |
Warrant holders will not have the rights or privileges of holders of ordinary shares or any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive ordinary shares. After the issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by shareholders.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indentures, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue the senior debt securities under the senior indenture that we will enter into with the trustee to be named in the senior indenture. We will issue the subordinated debt securities under the subordinated indenture that we will enter into with the trustee to be named in the subordinated indenture. The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. We use the term “debenture trustee” to refer to either the trustee under the senior indenture or the trustee under the subordinated indenture, as applicable. We have filed forms of indentures as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.
The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.
General
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
| ● | the title; | |
| ● | the principal amount being offered, and if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding; | |
| ● | any limit on the amount that may be issued; | |
| ● | whether or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form, the terms and who the depositary will be; | |
| ● | the maturity date; | |
| ● | whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a U.S. person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts; | |
| ● | the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; | |
| ● | whether the interest is payable in property other than cash, including in securities of ours, or by increasing the principal amount of the debt securities; | |
| ● | whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
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| ● | the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt; | |
| ● | the place where payments will be payable; | |
| ● | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; | |
| ● | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; | |
| ● | the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions; | |
| ● | the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable; | |
| ● | whether the indenture will restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness, issue additional securities, create liens, pay dividends and make distributions in respect of our capital stock, redeem capital stock, make investments or other restricted payments, sell or otherwise dispose of assets, enter into sale-leaseback transactions, engage in transactions with shareholders and affiliates, or effect a consolidation or merger; | |
| ● | whether the indenture will require us to maintain any interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios; | |
| ● | a discussion of any material U.S. Federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities; | |
| ● | information describing any book-entry features; | |
| ● | provisions for a sinking fund purchase or other analogous fund, if any; | |
| ● | the applicability of the provisions in the indenture on discharge; | |
| ● | whether the debt securities are to be offered at a price such that they will be deemed to be offered at an “original issue discount” as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 1273 of the Internal Revenue Code; | |
| ● | the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; | |
| ● | the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; and | |
| ● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any additional events of default or covenants provided with respect to the debt securities, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. |
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our ordinary shares or our other securities. We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our ordinary shares or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
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Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indentures will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indentures or the debt securities, as appropriate. If the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for our other securities or securities of other entities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property must make provisions for the conversion of the debt securities into securities that the holders of the debt securities would have received if they had converted the debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.
Events of Default Under the Indenture
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indentures with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
| ● | if we fail to pay interest when due and payable and our failure continues for 90 days and the time for payment has not been extended or deferred; | |
| ● | if we fail to pay the principal, premium or sinking fund payment, if any, when due and payable and the time for payment has not been extended or delayed; | |
| ● | if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indentures, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive notice from the debenture trustee or holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and | |
| ● | if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur. |
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the debenture trustee or the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the debenture trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the debenture trustee or any holder.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
Subject to the terms of the indentures, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the debenture trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the debenture trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the debenture trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the debenture trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:
| ● | the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and | |
| ● | subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the debenture trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding. |
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A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indentures or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:
| ● | the holder has given written notice to the debenture trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series; | |
| ● | the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the debenture trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee; and | |
| ● | the debenture trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer. |
These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.
We will periodically file statements with the debenture trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indentures.
Modification of Indenture; Waiver
We and the debenture trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:
| ● | to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture; | |
| ● | to comply with the provisions described above under “Description of Debt Securities — Consolidation, Merger or Sale”; | |
| ● | to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; | |
| ● | to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture; | |
| ● | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided under “Description of Debt Securities — General,” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities; | |
| ● | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee; | |
| ● | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose; | |
| ● | to add to our covenants such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions of or provisions for an event of default; or | |
| ● | to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series. |
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In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the debenture trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the debenture trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:
| ● | extending the fixed maturity of the series of debt securities; | |
| ● | reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any debt securities; or | |
| ● | reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver. |
Discharge
Each indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
| ● | register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series; | |
| ● | replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series; | |
| ● | maintain paying agencies; | |
| ● | hold monies or other property for payment in trust; | |
| ● | recover excess money held by the debenture trustee; | |
| ● | compensate and indemnify the debenture trustee; and | |
| ● | appoint any successor trustee. |
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the debenture trustee money or government obligations (or, if the debt securities are payable otherwise than in cash, we must have made other arrangements satisfactory to the debenture trustee for payment in property other than cash), sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to that series. See “Legal Ownership of Securities” for a further description of the terms relating to any book-entry securities.
At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
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Subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed, if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
| ● | issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or | |
| ● | register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part. |
Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee
The debenture trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the debenture trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the debenture trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indentures at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders (or, if the debt securities are payable otherwise than in cash, in accordance with provisions set forth in the prospectus supplement). Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the debenture trustee in the City of New York as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money or other property we pay to a paying agent or the debenture trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is applicable.
Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities
The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of subordinated debt securities that we may issue, nor does it limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.
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We may offer units comprised of any 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 units may be issued under unit agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as unit agent, as detailed in the prospectus supplement relating to units being offered.
We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part of, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement, if any, that describes the terms of the series of units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of units. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement, if any, and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of units that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete unit agreement, if any, and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the units.
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of units will describe the terms of those units and the price or prices at which we will offer the units. The description may include:
| ● | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be held or transferred separately; | |
| ● | a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; | |
| ● | a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units; | |
| ● | a discussion of material federal income tax considerations, if applicable; and | |
| ● | whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form. |
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We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee, depositary or warrant agent maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.
Book-Entry Holders
We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Securities issued in global form will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.
As a result, investors in a book-entry security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the securities.
Street Name Holders
We may terminate a global security or issue securities in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name.” Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.
For securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.
Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee and of any third parties employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.
For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect holders is up to the holders.
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Special Considerations For Indirect Holders
If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
| ● | how it handles securities payments and notices; | |
| ● | whether it imposes fees or charges; | |
| ● | how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required; | |
| ● | whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future; | |
| ● | how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and | |
| ● | if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters. |
Global Securities
A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.
Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or “DTC,” will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.
If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times, unless, and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.
Special Considerations For Global Securities
The rights of an indirect holder relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities, and instead, deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
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If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:
| ● | an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below; | |
| ● | an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above; | |
| ● | an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form; | |
| ● | an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective; | |
| ● | the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security; | |
| ● | we and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security, nor do we or any applicable trustee supervise the depositary in any way; | |
| ● | the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and | |
| ● | financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities. |
There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.
Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own name, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:
| ● | if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days; | |
| ● | if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or | |
| ● | if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived. |
The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not we or any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.
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We may sell or issue the securities from time to time though any one or more of the following ways:
| ● | through underwriters or dealers; | |
| ● | directly to purchasers; | |
| ● | through agents; | |
| ● | in “at the market” offerings, within the meaning of 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; or | |
| ● | through a combination of these methods. |
Registration of the securities covered by this prospectus does not mean that the securities will be offered or sold.
Securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or at negotiated prices.
For each offering of securities hereunder, we will describe the method of distribution of such securities, among other things, in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering of the securities, including, as applicable:
| ● | the name or names of any agents or underwriters; | |
| ● | the amount of securities underwritten or purchased by any underwriter; | |
| ● | the initial public offering price; | |
| ● | the amounts of any commissions, discounts paid or allowed to any agents or underwriters; | |
| ● | the proceeds we will receive; | |
| ● | any other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; | |
| ● | any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or paid to dealers; | |
| ● | the material terms of any agreement with any underwriters or agents; and | |
| ● | any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed. |
Securities may be offered through underwriters. Any underwriter will be named, and any discounts allowed or other compensation payable to any underwriter will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. The securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold 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 securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if any are purchased. We may grant the underwriters an over-allotment option under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agents. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
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Securities may be offered to purchasers directly or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities will be named, and any commissions or other compensation payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Securities may be offered to purchasers through dealers as principals. The dealer may then resell the offered securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Securities and resale shares may be offered into an existing trading market for such securities at other than a fixed price. Underwriters, dealers, and agents who participate in any such at-the-market offerings will be named in the applicable prospectus, along with the terms and conditions of any agency, marketing or similar agreement and the commissions payable or other compensation upon sale of the securities.
We may make direct sales of securities through subscription rights distributed to our existing shareholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to our shareholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed securities to third parties. Any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the offer or sale of the securities will be named, and any commissions or other compensation payable by us to such underwriter, dealer or agent will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may offer securities directly to service providers or suppliers in payment of outstanding invoices.
Any underwriters, broker-dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” as defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities Act.” Any commissions paid or any discounts or concessions allowed to any such persons, and any profits they receive on resale of the securities, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
Agents and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect of their liabilities.
We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by institutional investors, such as commercial banks and investment companies, to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The terms and conditions of these contracts and the commissions payable for solicitation of the contracts will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.
During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, these activities may be discontinued at any time.
Any underwriters who are qualified market makers may engage in passive market making transactions in the securities in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M.
Agents and underwriters may be our customers, engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, securities offered by us under this prospectus will be a new issue and, other than the ordinary shares, which are listed on Nasdaq, will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on an exchange, and in the case of the ordinary shares, on any additional exchange, but, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we shall not be obligated to do so. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or a foreign securities exchange. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.
All costs, expenses and fees associated with the registration and distribution of shelf securities will be borne by us.
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The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by us in connection with registering the securities offered hereby. All amounts listed below are estimates.
| Itemized expense | Amount | |||
| SEC registration fee | $ | 40,000 | ||
| Legal fees and expenses | $ | 15,000 | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses | $ | 15,500 | ||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees | $ | 5,000 | ||
| Miscellaneous | $ | 5,000 | ||
| Total | $ | 80,500 | ||
Our costs and expenses relating to each sale of securities being registered hereby will be provided by a prospectus supplement.
Graubard Miller, New York, New York, is acting as counsel in connection with the registration of our securities under the Securities Act and will pass upon pass upon certain legal matters for us with respect to the offering of our securities. Mills Oakley, Sydney, Australia, will pass upon the validity of the ordinary shares and preferred shares offered in this prospectus and on matters of Australia law.
The financial statements as of January 31, 2021 and 2020 and for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2021, incorporated by reference in this registration statement, have been so included in reliance on the report of BDO Audit Pty Ltd, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are an Australian company and our executive offices are located outside of the United States. Certain of our directors and officers and some of the experts in this prospectus reside outside the United States. In addition, a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of our directors, officers and experts are located outside of the United States. As a result, you may have difficulty serving legal process within the United States upon us or any of these persons. You may also have difficulty enforcing, both in and outside of the United States, judgments you may obtain in U.S. courts against us or these persons in any action, including actions based upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal or state securities laws. Furthermore, there is substantial doubt that the courts of Australia would enter judgments in original actions brought in those courts predicated on U.S. federal or state securities laws.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 with respect to the securities offered hereby. This prospectus, which forms a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits thereto. The registration statement includes and incorporates by reference additional information and exhibits. Statements made in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are summaries of the material terms of such contracts, agreements or documents, but do not repeat all of their terms. Reference is made to each such exhibit for a more complete description of the matters involved and such statements shall be deemed qualified in their entirety by such reference. The registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto filed with the SEC are available without charge on the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov that contains periodic reports and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC.
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We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and we file periodic reports and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports and other information are available on the website of the SEC referred to above. As a “foreign private issuer,” we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders. Those proxy statements are not expected to conform to Schedule 14A of the proxy rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. In addition, as a “foreign private issuer,” we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act relating to short swing profit reporting and liability.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference our documents listed below:
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on May 18, 2021; | |
| ● | our reports on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on February 1, 2021, February 23, 2021, February 25, 2021, March 1, 2021, March 12, 2021, March 30, 2021, April 21, 2021, April 23, 2021, April 29, 2021, and April 30, 2021; and | |
| ● | the description of our ordinary shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (No. 001-38544) filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. |
We are also incorporating by reference (i) all subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F that we file with the SEC and certain reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of the initial filing of and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and (ii) all such Annual Reports and certain reports on Form 6-K that we file after the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, until we file a post-effective amendment indicating that the offering of the securities made by this prospectus has been terminated (in each case, if such Form 6-K states that it is incorporated by reference into this prospectus).
Any statement contained in a document filed before the date of this prospectus and incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. Any information that we file after the date of this prospectus with the SEC and incorporated by reference herein will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus and in any document previously incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the information we previously filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the dates on the front cover of those documents only.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents that have been incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the registration statement not delivered with the prospectus. We will provide these reports or documents upon written or oral request at no cost to the requester. Requests for such documents should be made to Naked Brand Group Limited, Attn: Mr. Justin Davis-Rice, Unit 7, 35-39 William Street, Double Bay, NSW 2028, Australia. Such documents may also be accessed free of charge on our website at www.nakedbrands.com.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
| Item 8. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
We must indemnify current and past directors and other executive officers of the Company on a full indemnity basis and to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liabilities incurred by the director or officer as a result of their holding office in the Company or a related body corporate.
We may also, to the extent permitted by law, purchase and maintain insurance, or pay or agree to pay a premium for insurance, for each director and officer against any liability incurred by the director or officer as a result of their holding office in the Company or a related body corporate.
Under the Corporations Act, a company or a related body corporate must not indemnify a person against any liabilities incurred as an officer or auditor of the company if it is a liability:
| (a) | owed to the company or a related body corporate; |
| (b) | for a pecuniary penalty or compensation order made in accordance with the Corporations Act; or |
| (c) | that is owed to someone other than the company or a related body corporate and did not arise out of conduct in good faith. |
In addition, a company or related body corporate must not indemnify a person against legal costs incurred in defending an action for a liability incurred as an officer or auditor of the company if the costs are incurred in:
| (a) | defending or resisting proceedings in which the person is found to have a liability of the type described above; |
| (b) | in defending or resisting criminal proceedings in which the person is found guilty; |
| (c) | in defending or resisting proceedings brought by the Australian corporate regulator or a liquidator for a court order if the grounds for making the order are found to have been established; or |
| (d) | in connection with proceedings for relief to the person under the Corporations Act in which the Court denies the relief. |
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
| Item 9. | Exhibits. |
The exhibits filed herewith or incorporated by reference herein are listed in the Exhibit Index below.
| Item 10. | 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;
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(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 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 (i), (ii) and (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 SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) If the registrant is a foreign private issuer, to file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F (§ 249.220f of this chapter) at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 77j(a)(3)) need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3 (§ 239.33 of this chapter), a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act or Item 8.A of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Form F-3.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
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(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is 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.
(ii) If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the 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, that registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(i) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(j) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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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 F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Sydney, Australia, on the 18th day of May, 2021.
| NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ Justin Davis-Rice | |
| Justin Davis-Rice | ||
| Executive Chairman | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Justin Davis-Rice and Mark Ziirsen as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments including post-effective amendments to this proxy statement/prospectus and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitute, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
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.
| Name | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Justin Davis-Rice | Executive Chairman and Director | May 18, 2021 | ||
| Justin Davis-Rice | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| /s/ Mark Ziirsen | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer | May 18, 2021 | ||
| Mark Ziirsen | and Principal Accounting Officer) | |||
| /s/ Simon Tripp | Director | May 18, 2021 | ||
| Simon Tripp | ||||
| /s/ Andrew Shape | Director | May 18, 2021 | ||
| Andrew Shape | ||||
| /s/ Kelvin Fitzalan | Director | May 18, 2021 | ||
| Kelvin Fitzalan |
Authorized Representative in the United States
| GRAUBARD MILLER | ||
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey M. Gallant | |
| Name: | Jeffrey M. Gallant | |
| Title: | Partner | |
| Date: | May 18, 2021 | |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
* To be filed, if applicable, subsequent to the effectiveness of this Registration Statement by an amendment to this Registration Statement or by incorporation by reference through a Report on Form 6-K filed in connection with an offering of securities
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Exhibit 4.4
NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED,
As Issuer,
AND
[_______________],
As Trustee
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF [__________] [___], 20[__]
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE (1)
| Section of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as Amended | Indenture | |
| 310(a) | 7.10 | |
| 310(b) | 7.09; 7.11 | |
| 310(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 311(a) | 7.14 | |
| 311(b) | 7.14 | |
| 311(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 312(a) | 5.02(a) | |
| 312(b) | 5.02(c) | |
| 312(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 313(a) | 5.04(a) | |
| 313(b) | 5.04(b) | |
| 313(c) | 5.04(a); 5.04(b) | |
| 313(d) | 5.04(c) | |
| 314(a) | 5.03; 4.06 | |
| 314(b) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(c) | 13.07 | |
| 314(d) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(e) | 13.07 | |
| 314(f) | Inapplicable | |
| 315(a) | 7.01(a); 7.03 | |
| 315(b) | 7.02 | |
| 315(c) | 7.01 | |
| 315(d) | 7.01(b) | |
| 315(e) | 6.07; 7.07 | |
| 316(a) | 6.06; 8.04 | |
| 316(b) | 6.04 | |
| 316(c) | 8.01 | |
| 317(a) | 6.02 | |
| 317(b) | 4.03 | |
| 318(a) | 13.09 |
(1) This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (2)
| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 1 |
| SECTION 1.01 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS | 1 |
| ARTICLE II ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES | 4 |
| SECTION 2.01 DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF SECURITIES | 4 |
| SECTION 2.02 FORM OF SECURITIES AND TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE | 6 |
| SECTION 2.03 DENOMINATIONS: PROVISIONS FOR PAYMENT | 6 |
| SECTION 2.04 EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION | 7 |
| SECTION 2.05 REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE | 7 |
| SECTION 2.06 TEMPORARY SECURITIES | 8 |
| SECTION 2.07 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN SECURITIES | 9 |
| SECTION 2.08 CANCELLATION | 9 |
| SECTION 2.09 BENEFITS OF INDENTURE | 9 |
| SECTION 2.10 AUTHENTICATING AGENT | 9 |
| SECTION 2.11 GLOBAL SECURITIES | 10 |
| ARTICLE III REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS | 11 |
| SECTION 3.01 REDEMPTION | 11 |
| SECTION 3.02 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION | 11 |
| SECTION 3.03 PAYMENT UPON REDEMPTION | 12 |
| SECTION 3.04 SINKING FUND | 12 |
| SECTION 3.05 SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES | 13 |
| SECTION 3.06 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND | 13 |
| ARTICLE IV COVENANTS | 13 |
| SECTION 4.01 PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST | 13 |
| SECTION 4.02 MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY | 13 |
| SECTION 4.03 PAYING AGENTS | 14 |
| SECTION 4.04 APPOINTMENT TO FILL VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE | 14 |
| SECTION 4.05 COMPLIANCE WITH CONSOLIDATION PROVISIONS | 14 |
| SECTION 4.06 STATEMENT BY OFFICERS AS TO DEFAULT | 14 |
| ARTICLE V SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE | 15 |
| SECTION 5.01 COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS | 15 |
| SECTION 5.02 PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS WITH SECURITYHOLDERS | 15 |
| SECTION 5.03 REPORTS BY THE COMPANY | 15 |
| SECTION 5.04 REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE | 16 |
| ARTICLE VI REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT | 16 |
| SECTION 6.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 16 |
| SECTION 6.02 COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE | 17 |
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| SECTION 6.03 APPLICATION OF MONEYS COLLECTED | 18 |
| SECTION 6.04 LIMITATION ON SUITS | 19 |
| SECTION 6.05 RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER | 19 |
| SECTION 6.06 CONTROL BY SECURITYHOLDERS | 20 |
| SECTION 6.07 UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS | 20 |
| ARTICLE VII CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE | 20 |
| SECTION 7.01 CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE | 20 |
| SECTION 7.02 NOTICE OF DEFAULTS | 21 |
| SECTION 7.03 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE | 21 |
| SECTION 7.04 TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OR SECURITIES | 22 |
| SECTION 7.05 MAY HOLD SECURITIES | 23 |
| SECTION 7.06 MONEYS HELD IN TRUST | 23 |
| SECTION 7.07 COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT | 23 |
| SECTION 7.08 RELIANCE ON OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE | 23 |
| SECTION 7.09 DISQUALIFICATION; CONFLICTING INTERESTS | 24 |
| SECTION 7.10 CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY | 24 |
| SECTION 7.11 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR | 24 |
| SECTION 7.12 ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR | 25 |
| SECTION 7.13 MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS | 26 |
| SECTION 7.14 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY | 26 |
| ARTICLE VIII CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS | 26 |
| SECTION 8.01 EVIDENCE OF ACTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS | 26 |
| SECTION 8.02 PROOF OF EXECUTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS | 27 |
| SECTION 8.03 WHO MAY BE DEEMED OWNERS | 27 |
| SECTION 8.04 CERTAIN SECURITIES OWNED BY COMPANY DISREGARDED | 27 |
| SECTION 8.05 ACTIONS BINDING ON FUTURE SECURITYHOLDERS | 27 |
| ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 28 |
| SECTION 9.01 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS | 28 |
| SECTION 9.02 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS | 28 |
| SECTION 9.03 EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 29 |
| SECTION 9.04 SECURITIES AFFECTED BY SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 29 |
| SECTION 9.05 EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 29 |
| ARTICLE X SUCCESSOR ENTITY | 30 |
| SECTION 10.01 COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC | 30 |
| SECTION 10.02 SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED | 30 |
| SECTION 10.03 EVIDENCE OF CONSOLIDATION, ETC. TO TRUSTEE | 30 |
| ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE | 31 |
| SECTION 11.01 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | 31 |
| SECTION 11.02 DEFEASANCE | 31 |
| SECTION 11.03 DEPOSITED MONEYS TO BE HELD IN TRUST | 32 |
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| SECTION 11.04 PAYMENT OF MONEYS HELD BY PAYING AGENTS | 32 |
| SECTION 11.05 REPAYMENT TO COMPANY | 32 |
| ARTICLE XII IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, SHAREHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | 33 |
| SECTION 12.01 NO RECOURSE | 33 |
| ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 33 |
| SECTION 13.01 EFFECT ON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS | 33 |
| SECTION 13.02 ACTIONS BY SUCCESSOR. | 33 |
| SECTION 13.03 SURRENDER OF COMPANY POWERS | 33 |
| SECTION 13.04 NOTICES | 33 |
| SECTION 13.05 GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY | 34 |
| SECTION 13.06 TREATMENT OF SECURITIES AS DEBT | 34 |
| SECTION 13.07 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS | 34 |
| SECTION 13.08 PAYMENTS ON BUSINESS DAYS | 34 |
| SECTION 13.09 CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT | 34 |
| SECTION 13.10 COUNTERPARTS | 34 |
| SECTION 13.11 SEPARABILITY | 35 |
| SECTION 13.12 ASSIGNMENT | 35 |
(2) This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.
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INDENTURE, dated as of [__________] [___], 20[_], between Naked Brand Group Limited, an Australian public limited company (the “Company”), and [_____________], a [______________], as trustee (the “Trustee”):
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as provided in this Indenture, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee;
WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued, and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Securities or of series thereof.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS.
The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, or that are by reference in said Trust Indenture Act defined in the Securities Act (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.
“ARTICLE”, “SECTION” or other subdivisions refer to Articles, Sections or other subdivisions of this Indenture.
“AUTHENTICATING AGENT” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed with respect to all or any series of the Securities by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.
“BANKRUPTCY LAW” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“BOARD OF DIRECTORS” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such Board.
“BOARD RESOLUTION” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
“BUSINESS DAY” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a Saturday or Sunday, or a day on which federal or state banking institutions in [________], are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
“CERTIFICATE” means a certificate signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company. The Certificate need not comply with the provisions of Section 13.07.
“COMMISSION” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“COMPANY” means Naked Brand Group Limited, an Australian public limited company, and its subsidiaries, and, subject to the provisions of Article X, shall also include its successors and assigns.
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“CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at [____________________________].
“COVENANT DEFEASANCE” has the meaning given in Section 11.02.
“CUSTODIAN” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“DEFAULT” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
“DEFAULTED INTEREST” has the meaning given in Section 2.03.
“DEPOSITARY” means, with respect to Securities of any series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, [_________], another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or 2.11.
“EVENT OF DEFAULT” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.
“EXCHANGE ACT” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.
“GLOBAL SECURITY” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
“GOVERNMENTAL OBLIGATIONS” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the Holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the Holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“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.
“INCLUDING”, unless the context requires otherwise, means including without limitation.
“INDENTURE” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.
“INTEREST PAYMENT DATE”, when used with respect to any installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.
“LEGAL DEFEASANCE” has the meaning given in Section 11.02.
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“OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE” means a certificate signed by the Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President and by the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Controller or an Assistant Controller or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“OPINION OF COUNSEL” means an opinion in writing of legal counsel acceptable to the Trustee, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01.
“OUTSTANDING”, when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article III; or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 6.01.
“PERSON” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint-venture, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“PREDECESSOR SECURITY” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
“RESPONSIBLE OFFICER”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer assigned to the [______________] [Division / Unit] (or any successor division or unit) of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and for the purposes of Section 7.01(b)(ii) and Section 315(b) of the Trust Indenture Act shall also include any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“SECURITIES” means the debt securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“SECURITIES ACT” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.
“SECURITYHOLDER”, “HOLDER of SECURITIES”, “REGISTERED HOLDER”, “HOLDER”, or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
“SECURITY REGISTER” has the meaning given in Section 2.05.
“SECURITY REGISTRAR” has the meaning given in Section 2.05.
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“SUBSIDIARY” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Shares shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.
“TRUSTEE” means [_______________] and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.
“TRUST INDENTURE ACT” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, subject to the provisions of Sections 9.01, 9.02, and 10.01, as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument.
“VOTING SHARES”, as applied to shares of any Person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
ARTICLE II
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01 DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF SECURITIES.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount, if any, of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:
(1) the title of the Security of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series);
(3) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable, any original issue discount that may apply to the Securities of that series upon their issuance, the principal amount due at maturity and the place(s) of payment;
(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;
(5) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates, the place(s) of payment, and the record date or other method for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates;
(6) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;
(7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
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(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in satisfaction of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(9) the form of the Securities of the series, including the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication for such series;
(10) if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable (including denominations of foreign currency);
(11) any and all other terms with respect to such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture);
(12) whether the Securities of the series are issuable as a Global Security and, in such case, the identity of the Depositary for such series and any other or different terms in respect of such Global Security;
(13) whether the Securities of the series will be convertible into ordinary shares or other securities of the Company and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible, including the conversion price and the conversion period;
(14) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;
(15) any additional or different Events of Default or restrictive covenants provided for with respect to the Securities of the series;
(16) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or in specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 11.02 and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;
(17) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01, and/or the property, including securities of the Company, in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be payable and the terms and conditions of such payment in property, including whether at the option of the Company or the Securityholder; and
(18) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Company shall pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the Securities of the series to any Securityholder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes.
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto. If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series. Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates. Notwithstanding Section 2.01(2) and unless otherwise expressly provided with respect to a series of Securities, the aggregate principal amount of a series of Securities may be increased and additional Securities of such series may be issued up to the maximum aggregate principal amount authorized with respect to such series as increased.
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SECTION 2.02 FORM OF SECURITIES AND TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE.
The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate. The Securities may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.
SECTION 2.03 DENOMINATIONS: PROVISIONS FOR PAYMENT.
The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.01(10). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rates specified or provided for with respect to that series. Except as contemplated by Section 2.01(17), the principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in [________________]; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee. Except as contemplated by Section 2.01(4), interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months. Except as contemplated by Section 2.01(5), the interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.03. Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such Holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment 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 Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date.
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(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee. Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities with respect to any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.
SECTION 2.04 EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION.
The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its President, or one of its Vice Presidents, or its Treasurer, or one of its Assistant Treasurers, attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature. The Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been a President or Vice President thereof, or of any Person who shall have been the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary thereof, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be the President or a Vice President, or the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. A Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence and the only evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by its President or any Vice President and its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture and 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 any Bankruptcy Law or other insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles and to other customary exceptions. The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
SECTION 2.05 REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.
(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose in [____________], for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
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(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose in [_____________], or such other location designated by the Company a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided shall be appointed as authorized by Board Resolution (the “Security Registrar”). Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount. All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered Holder or by such Holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.
(c) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer. The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption. The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.
SECTION 2.06 TEMPORARY SECURITIES.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the Holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose in [______________], and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
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SECTION 2.07 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN SECURITIES.
In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith. In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof. Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
SECTION 2.08 CANCELLATION.
All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.09 BENEFITS OF INDENTURE.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the Holders of the Securities any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the Holders of the Securities.
SECTION 2.10 AUTHENTICATING AGENT.
So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately. Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto. 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 that 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.
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SECTION 2.11 GLOBAL SECURITIES.
(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that
(1) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all or a portion of the Outstanding Securities of such series,
(2) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee,
(3) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, and
(4) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to the Depositary, another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to the Depositary for such series, another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
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(d) None of the Trustee, the Security Registrar or any paying agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner in a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Securityholders and all payments to be made to Securityholders under the Securities and this Indenture shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of the Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in the Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable procedures. The Trustee, the Security Registrar and any paying agent shall be entitled to rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners. The Trustee, the Security Registrar and any paying agent shall be entitled to deal with any depositary (including the Depositary), and any nominee thereof, that is the registered holder of any Global Security for all purposes of this Indenture relating to such Global Security (including the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest and additional amounts, if any, and the giving of instructions or directions by or to the owner or holder of a beneficial ownership interest in such Global Security) as the sole holder of such Global Security and shall have no obligations to the beneficial owners thereof. None of the Trustee, the Security Registrar or any paying agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any acts or omissions of any such depositary with respect to such Global Security, for the records of any such depositary, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of any such Global Security, for any transactions between such depositary and any participant in such depositary or between or among any such depositary, any such participant and/or any holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such Global Security.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying agent, or any other agent of the Company or any agent of the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any depositary (including the Depositary), as a Securityholder, with respect to such Global Security or impair, as between such depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of such Global Security.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
SECTION 3.01 REDEMPTION.
The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.
SECTION 3.02 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.
(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with the right reserved so to do, the Company shall (upon five Business Days prior notice to the Trustee, unless a shorter notice period shall be acceptable to the Trustee), or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to Holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered Holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the Holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction. Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company in [_____________], upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the Holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in whole or in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
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(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 45 days’ notice in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by its President or any Vice President, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such paying agent as it may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 3.03 PAYMENT UPON REDEMPTION.
(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an Interest Payment Date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered Holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).
(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
SECTION 3.04 SINKING FUND.
The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
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SECTION 3.05 SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.
The Company,
(1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and
(2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 3.06 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01 PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.
The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of each series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities.
SECTION 4.02 MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.
So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency in [____________], with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as herein above authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by its President or a Vice President and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency in [_____________] for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, notices and demands.
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 [____________] 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.
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SECTION 4.03 PAYING AGENTS.
(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:
(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;
(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;
(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and
(4) that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient 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 this action or failure so to act.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary,
(1) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and
(2) the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; 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.
SECTION 4.04 APPOINTMENT TO FILL VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE.
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.11, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
SECTION 4.05 COMPLIANCE WITH CONSOLIDATION PROVISIONS.
The Company will not, while any of the Securities remain Outstanding, consolidate with or merge into any other Person, in either case where the Company is not the survivor of such transaction, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of its property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other Person unless the provisions of Article X hereof are complied with.
SECTION 4.06 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, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such signer may have knowledge.
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ARTICLE V
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 5.01 COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(1) not more than 15 days after each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.03) a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company; and
(2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.
SECTION 5.02 PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS WITH SECURITYHOLDERS.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of Holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).
(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities.
SECTION 5.03 REPORTS BY THE COMPANY.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company has filed 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 Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with the 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 Exchange Act, 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.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees to transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, or reputable overnight delivery service that provides for evidence of receipt, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.
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(d) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 5.03 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its respective covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates, except as otherwise provided herein).
SECTION 5.04 REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE.
(a) On or before July 15 in each year in which any of the Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding May 15, if and to the extent required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any stock exchange.
ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;
(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;
(4) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law
| (i) | commences a voluntary case, | |
| (ii) | consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, | |
| (iii) | consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or | |
| (iv) | makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or |
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(5) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that
| (i) | is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, | |
| (ii) | appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property, or | |
| (iii) | orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days. |
(b) In each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, notwithstanding anything contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of that series or established with respect to that series pursuant to Section 2.01 to the contrary.
(c) At any time after the principal of the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and
(2) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on Securities of that series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.06. No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company, and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
SECTION 6.02 COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.
(a) The Company covenants that
(1) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series, as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 90 days, or
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(2) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration, pursuant to any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series or otherwise, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07.
(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.
(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the Holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under the Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.07.
(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.07, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series. In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.03 APPLICATION OF MONEYS COLLECTED.
Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities and any money or other property distributable in respect of the company’s obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
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FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee (including any predecessor Trustee) under Section 7.07; and
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively.
SECTION 6.04 LIMITATION ON SUITS.
No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless
(1) such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided;
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as trustee hereunder;
(3) such Holder or Holders shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; and
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and
(5) during such 60 day period, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the right of any Holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the Holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
SECTION 6.05 RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.
(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or on acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.
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SECTION 6.06 CONTROL BY SECURITYHOLDERS.
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.01, shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders of Securities of any other series at the time Outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.01. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.01, may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.01(c)) or in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 6.07 UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Securities by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.
ARTICLE
VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01 CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
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(b) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred: the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirement of this Indenture;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee, was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that series; and
(4) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (c) of this Section 7.01.
(c) None of the provisions contained in 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, it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(d) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of or be charged with having knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities, except Events of Default under Section 6.01(a)(1) or (a)(2), if and so long as it is acting as paying agent with respect to the Securities of such series, unless written notice of such Default Event or Event of Default, as the case may be, is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee from the Company or any Holder of Securities of such series, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.
(e) Whether or not 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 7.01.
SECTION 7.02 NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.
If a Default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series and is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such Default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any Default of the character specified in clause (3) of Section 6.01(a) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof.
SECTION 7.03 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument signed in the name of the Company, by the President or any Vice President and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer thereof (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein);
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(c) The Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(d) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to 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;
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents; 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.
(h) 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, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;
(i) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;
(j) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture;
(k) the permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any actions enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty;
(l) anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Company or Guarantor has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;
(m) the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action.
SECTION 7.04 TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OR SECURITIES.
(a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same.
(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
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(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.01, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.
SECTION 7.05 MAY HOLD SECURITIES.
The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Security Registrar.
SECTION 7.06 MONEYS HELD IN TRUST.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
SECTION 7.07 COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), as the Company, and the Trustee may from time to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, damage, claims liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim whether asserted by the Company, any Securityholder or any other Person or liability including the compensation and expense of counsel in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.
(c) To the extent permitted by law, any compensation due or expense incurred by the Trustee after a default specified in or pursuant to Section 6.01 is intended to constitute an expense of administration under any then applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law. “Trustee” for purposes of this Section 7.07 shall include any predecessor Trustee but the negligence or bad faith of any Trustee shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee under this Section 7.07.
(d) The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the termination of this Indenture for any reason, or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee and shall apply with equal force and effect to the Trustee in its capacity as Authenticating Agent, Security Registrar or paying agent.
SECTION 7.08 RELIANCE ON OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warranty to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
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SECTION 7.09 DISQUALIFICATION; CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the penultimate paragraph thereof. For purposes of Section 310(b)(i) of the Trust Indenture Act and to the extent permitted thereby, the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee in respect of the Securities of any series, shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest arising from its capacity as trustee in respect of the Securities of any other series.
SECTION 7.10 CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.
There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.11.
SECTION 7.11 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.
(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.09 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.10 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
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then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, unless, in the case of a failure to comply with Section 7.09, the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in the penultimate paragraph of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the consent of the Company.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.12.
(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.
SECTION 7.12 ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; 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 the lien provided for in Section 7.07.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor trustee shall accept such appointment and which
(1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates,
(2) shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and
(3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder; 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, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates, subject nevertheless to the lien provided for in Section 7.07.
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(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.
(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 7.13 MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.
Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such Person shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.09 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.10, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
SECTION 7.14 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 8.01 EVIDENCE OF ACTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Holders of Securities of that series in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing. If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
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SECTION 8.02 PROOF OF EXECUTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(1) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(2) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.
(3) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
SECTION 8.03 WHO MAY BE DEEMED OWNERS.
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
SECTION 8.04 CERTAIN SECURITIES OWNED BY COMPANY DISREGARDED.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
SECTION 8.05 ACTIONS BINDING ON FUTURE SECURITYHOLDERS.
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the Holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Securities of that series.
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ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 9.01 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency herein, in the Securities of any series;
(2) to comply with Article X;
(3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(4) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series);
(5) to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of Securities (prior to the issuance thereof), as herein set forth;
(6) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect;
(7) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the Holders of any series of Securities; or
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 7.12.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.
SECTION 9.02 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.01 the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby:
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(1) change the 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 any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01 or change the coin or currency in which any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date), or
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 6.06 relating to waivers of default, 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, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 7.12 and 9.01(8).
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series. It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
SECTION 9.03 EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
SECTION 9.04 SECURITIES AFFECTED BY SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Securities of any series, affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.
SECTION 9.05 EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by its Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of any requisite consents of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof.
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Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Company shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
ARTICLE X
SUCCESSOR ENTITY
SECTION 10.01 COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC.
Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company is not the survivor of such transaction), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture or established with respect to each series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 to be kept or performed by the Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect) satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.
SECTION 10.02 SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED.
(a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by any successor entity by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee of the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture or established with respect to each series of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 to be performed by the Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor company, except in the case of a lease, shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
(c) Nothing contained in this Article shall require any action by the Company in the case of a consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company where the Company is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).
SECTION 10.03 EVIDENCE OF CONSOLIDATION, ETC. TO TRUSTEE.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply with the provisions of this Article.
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ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
SECTION 11.01 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE.
This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect with respect to a series of Securities (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such series 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 with respect to such series, when:
(1) either (A) all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) any Securities that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money or noncallable Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.05) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or (B) all Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, or (ii) will by their terms become due and payable within one year, or (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose (x) moneys in an amount, or (y) noncallable Governmental Obligations the scheduled principal of and interest on which in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (z) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the case of (y) or (z), in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, at maturity or upon redemption, all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be;
(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all the conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities have been complied with. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to a series of Securities, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 7.07 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (y) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Sections 11.03 and 11.05 shall survive.
SECTION 11.02 DEFEASANCE.
The Company may, at its option and at any time (including notwithstanding the exercise by the Company of a Covenant Defeasance (as defined herein)), elect to have its obligations discharged with respect to a series of the Securities (“Legal Defeasance”). Such Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such series of Securities, except for (a) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities when such payments are due solely from the trust fund described in this Section, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such series of Securities concerning issuing temporary Securities, registration of transfer or exchange of such series of Securities, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities of such series and the maintenance of an office or agency for payments, (c) the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith and (d) the Legal Defeasance provisions of this Indenture. In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of the Company released with respect to covenants provided with respect to such series of Securities under Section 2.01(15), 9.01(4) and 9.01(7) of this Indenture (“Covenant Defeasance”) and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities. In the event of Covenant Defeasance, those events described under Section 6.01(a) with respect to the foregoing covenants will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities.
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In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of such series, (A) moneys in an amount, or (B) noncallable Governmental Obligations the scheduled principal of and interest on which in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the case of (B) or (C), in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, at maturity or upon redemption, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such series of Securities on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of such series of Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that the Holders of such series of Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or insofar as Events of Default under clauses (4) and (5) of Section 6.01(a) with respect to the Securities of such series are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;
(5) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with; and
(6) if such series of Securities are to be redeemed prior to final maturity (other than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made.
SECTION 11.03 DEPOSITED MONEYS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.
All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the Holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.
SECTION 11.04 PAYMENT OF MONEYS HELD BY PAYING AGENTS.
In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.
SECTION 11.05 REPAYMENT TO COMPANY.
Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the Holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the Holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.
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ARTICLE XII
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, SHAREHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 12.01 NO RECOURSE.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor entity, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or successor entity, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, shareholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor entity, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, shareholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.
ARTICLE
XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 13.01 EFFECT ON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 13.02 ACTIONS BY SUCCESSOR.
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
SECTION 13.03 SURRENDER OF COMPANY POWERS.
The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and as to any successor entity.
SECTION 13.04 NOTICES.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: c/o Bendon Limited, 8 Airpark Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland 2022, New Zealand. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
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SECTION 13.05 GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY.
This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of [____________], and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State.
EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION RELATING TO THE TRUSTEE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE
SECTION 13.06 TREATMENT OF SECURITIES AS DEBT.
It is intended that the Securities will be treated as indebtedness and not as equity for federal income tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention.
SECTION 13.07 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.
(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include
(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 13.08 PAYMENTS ON BUSINESS DAYS.
Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
SECTION 13.09 CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.
SECTION 13.10 COUNTERPARTS.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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SECTION 13.11 SEPARABILITY.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
SECTION 13.12 ASSIGNMENT.
The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company, will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
| NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| _______________, as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| 36 |
Exhibit 4.5
NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED,
As Issuer,
AND
_______________,
As Trustee
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF [__________] [___], 20[__]
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE (1)
| Section of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as Amended | Indenture | |
| 310(a) | 7.10 | |
| 310(b) | 7.09; 7.11 | |
| 310(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 311(a) | 7.14 | |
| 311(b) | 7.14 | |
| 311(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 312(a) | 5.02(a) | |
| 312(b) | 5.02(c) | |
| 312(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 313(a) | 5.04(a) | |
| 313(b) | 5.04(b) | |
| 313(c) | 5.04(a); 5.04(b) | |
| 313(d) | 5.04(c) | |
| 314(a) | 5.03; 4.06 | |
| 314(b) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(c) | 13.07 | |
| 314(d) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(e) | 13.07 | |
| 314(f) | Inapplicable | |
| 315(a) | 7.01(a); 7.03 | |
| 315(b) | 7.02 | |
| 315(c) | 7.01 | |
| 315(d) | 7.01(b) | |
| 315(e) | 6.07; 7.07 | |
| 316(a) | 6.06; 8.04 | |
| 316(b) | 6.04 | |
| 316(c) | 8.01 | |
| 317(a) | 6.02 | |
| 317(b) | 4.03 | |
| 318(a) | 13.09 |
(1) This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions
| i |
TABLE OF CONTENTS (2)
| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 1 |
| SECTION 1.01 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS | 1 |
| ARTICLE II ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES | 4 |
| SECTION 2.01 DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF SECURITIES | 4 |
| SECTION 2.02 FORM OF SECURITIES AND TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE | 6 |
| SECTION 2.03 DENOMINATIONS: PROVISIONS FOR PAYMENT | 6 |
| SECTION 2.04 EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION | 7 |
| SECTION 2.05 REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE | 8 |
| SECTION 2.06 TEMPORARY SECURITIES | 8 |
| SECTION 2.07 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN SECURITIES | 9 |
| SECTION 2.08 CANCELLATION | 9 |
| SECTION 2.09 BENEFITS OF INDENTURE | 9 |
| SECTION 2.10 AUTHENTICATING AGENT | 10 |
| SECTION 2.11 GLOBAL SECURITIES | 10 |
| ARTICLE III REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS | 11 |
| SECTION 3.01 REDEMPTION | 11 |
| SECTION 3.02 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION | 12 |
| SECTION 3.03 PAYMENT UPON REDEMPTION | 12 |
| SECTION 3.04 SINKING FUND | 13 |
| SECTION 3.05 SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES | 13 |
| SECTION 3.06 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND | 13 |
| ARTICLE IV COVENANTS | 13 |
| SECTION 4.01 PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST | 13 |
| SECTION 4.02 MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY | 14 |
| SECTION 4.03 PAYING AGENTS | 14 |
| SECTION 4.04 APPOINTMENT TO FILL VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE | 15 |
| SECTION 4.05 COMPLIANCE WITH CONSOLIDATION PROVISIONS | 15 |
| SECTION 4.06 STATEMENT BY OFFICERS AS TO DEFAULT | 15 |
| ARTICLE V SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE | 15 |
| SECTION 5.01 COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS | 15 |
| SECTION 5.02 PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS WITH SECURITYHOLDERS | 15 |
| SECTION 5.03 REPORTS BY THE COMPANY | 16 |
| SECTION 5.04 REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE | 16 |
| ARTICLE VI REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT | 16 |
| SECTION 6.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 16 |
| SECTION 6.02 COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE | 18 |
| SECTION 6.03 APPLICATION OF MONEYS COLLECTED | 19 |
| SECTION 6.04 LIMITATION ON SUITS | 19 |
| SECTION 6.05 RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER | 20 |
| SECTION 6.06 CONTROL BY SECURITYHOLDERS | 20 |
| ii |
| SECTION 6.07 UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS | 20 |
| ARTICLE VII CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE | 21 |
| SECTION 7.01 CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE | 21 |
| SECTION 7.02 NOTICE OF DEFAULTS | 22 |
| SECTION 7.03 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE | 22 |
| SECTION 7.04 TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OR SECURITIES | 23 |
| SECTION 7.05 MAY HOLD SECURITIES | 23 |
| SECTION 7.06 MONEYS HELD IN TRUST | 23 |
| SECTION 7.07 COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT | 23 |
| SECTION 7.08 RELIANCE ON OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE | 24 |
| SECTION 7.09 DISQUALIFICATION; CONFLICTING INTERESTS | 24 |
| SECTION 7.10 CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY | 24 |
| SECTION 7.11 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR | 25 |
| SECTION 7.12 ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR | 25 |
| SECTION 7.13 MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS | 26 |
| SECTION 7.14 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY | 27 |
| ARTICLE VIII CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS | 27 |
| SECTION 8.01 EVIDENCE OF ACTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS | 27 |
| SECTION 8.02 PROOF OF EXECUTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS | 27 |
| SECTION 8.03 WHO MAY BE DEEMED OWNERS | 27 |
| SECTION 8.04 CERTAIN SECURITIES OWNED BY COMPANY DISREGARDED | 28 |
| SECTION 8.05 ACTIONS BINDING ON FUTURE SECURITYHOLDERS | 28 |
| ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 28 |
| SECTION 9.01 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS | 28 |
| SECTION 9.02 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS | 29 |
| SECTION 9.03 EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 30 |
| SECTION 9.04 SECURITIES AFFECTED BY SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 30 |
| SECTION 9.05 EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 30 |
| ARTICLE X SUCCESSOR ENTITY | 30 |
| SECTION 10.01 COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC | 30 |
| SECTION 10.02 SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED | 31 |
| SECTION 10.03 EVIDENCE OF CONSOLIDATION, ETC. TO TRUSTEE | 31 |
| ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE | 31 |
| SECTION 11.01 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | 31 |
| SECTION 11.02 DEFEASANCE | 32 |
| SECTION 11.03 DEPOSITED MONEYS TO BE HELD IN TRUST | 33 |
| SECTION 11.04 PAYMENT OF MONEYS HELD BY PAYING AGENTS | 33 |
| SECTION 11.05 REPAYMENT TO COMPANY | 33 |
| ARTICLE XII IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, SHAREHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | 33 |
| SECTION 12.01 NO RECOURSE | 33 |
| ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 34 |
| SECTION 13.01 EFFECT ON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS | 34 |
| SECTION 13.02 ACTIONS BY SUCCESSOR | 34 |
| SECTION 13.03 SURRENDER OF COMPANY POWERS | 34 |
| SECTION 13.04 NOTICES | 34 |
| iii |
| SECTION 13.05 GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY | 34 |
| SECTION 13.06 TREATMENT OF SECURITIES AS DEBT | 34 |
| SECTION 13.07 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS | 34 |
| SECTION 13.08 PAYMENTS ON BUSINESS DAYS | 35 |
| SECTION 13.09 CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT | 35 |
| SECTION 13.10 COUNTERPARTS | 35 |
| SECTION 13.11 SEPARABILITY | 35 |
| SECTION 13.12 ASSIGNMENT | 35 |
| ARTICLE XIV SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES | 36 |
| SECTION 14.01 SUBORDINATION TERMS | 36 |
(2) This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.
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INDENTURE, dated as of [__________] [___], 20[__], between Naked Brand Group Limited, an Australian public limited company (the “Company”), and [_____________], a [_____________], as trustee (the “Trustee”):
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of subordinated debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as provided in this Indenture, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee;
WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Securities or of series thereof.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS.
The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, or that are by reference in said Trust Indenture Act defined in the Securities Act (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.
“ARTICLE”, “SECTION” or other subdivisions refer to Articles, Sections or other subdivisions of this Indenture.
“AUTHENTICATING AGENT” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed with respect to all or any series of the Securities by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.
“BANKRUPTCY LAW” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“BOARD OF DIRECTORS” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such Board.
“BOARD RESOLUTION” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
“BUSINESS DAY” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a Saturday or Sunday, or a day on which federal or state banking institutions in [________], are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
“CERTIFICATE” means a certificate signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company. The Certificate need not comply with the provisions of Section 13.07.
“COMMISSION” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“COMPANY” means Naked Brand Group Limited, an Australian public limited company, and its subsidiaries, and, subject to the provisions of Article X, shall also include its successors and assigns.
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“CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at [________________________________].
“COVENANT DEFEASANCE” has the meaning given in Section 11.02.
“CUSTODIAN” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“DEFAULT” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
“DEFAULTED INTEREST” has the meaning given in Section 2.03.
“DEPOSITARY” means, with respect to Securities of any series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, [________], another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or 2.11.
“EVENT OF DEFAULT” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.
“EXCHANGE ACT” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.
“GLOBAL SECURITY” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
“GOVERNMENTAL OBLIGATIONS” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the Holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the Holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“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.
“INCLUDING”, unless the context requires otherwise, means including without limitation.
“INDENTURE” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.
“INTEREST PAYMENT DATE”, when used with respect to any installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.
“LEGAL DEFEASANCE” has the meaning given in Section 11.02.
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“OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE” means a certificate signed by the Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President and by the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Controller or an Assistant Controller or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“OPINION OF COUNSEL” means an opinion in writing of legal counsel acceptable to the Trustee, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01.
“OUTSTANDING”, when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article III; or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 6.01.
“PERSON” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint-venture, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“PREDECESSOR SECURITY” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
“RESPONSIBLE OFFICER” when used with respect to the Trustee means any officer assigned to the [________________] [Division / Unit] (or any successor division or unit) of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and for the purposes of Section 7.01(b)(ii) and Section 315(b) of the Trust Indenture Act shall also include any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“SECURITIES” means the debt securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“SECURITIES ACT” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.
“SECURITYHOLDER”, “HOLDER of SECURITIES”, “REGISTERED HOLDER”, “HOLDER”, or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
“SECURITY REGISTER” has the meaning given in Section 2.05.
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“SECURITY REGISTRAR” has the meaning given in Section 2.05.
“SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition of bankruptcy at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable law) on any indebtedness of the Company, incurred or assumed, unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS” shall not include (i) any indebtedness of the Company to a Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company or any of such Affiliate’s Subsidiaries, (ii) indebtedness to, or guaranteed on behalf of, any shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (including, without limitation, amounts owed for compensation), (iii) indebtedness to trade creditors and other amounts incurred in connection with obtaining goods, materials or services, (iv) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company, (v) that portion of any indebtedness incurred in violation of an incurrence test applicable to a series of the Securities, (vi) that portion of any indebtedness which, when incurred and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of Title 11, United States Code, is without recourse to the Company and (vii) that portion of any indebtedness which is, by its express terms, subordinated in right of payment to the Securities.
“SUBSIDIARY” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Shares shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.
“TRUSTEE” means [_____________] and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.
“TRUST INDENTURE ACT” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, subject to the provisions of Sections 9.01, 9.02, and 10.01, as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument.
“VOTING SHARES”, as applied to shares of any Person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
ARTICLE II
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01 DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF SECURITIES.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount, if any, of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:
(1) the title of the Security of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series);
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(3) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable, any original issue discount that may apply to the Securities of that series upon their issuance, the principal amount due at maturity and the place(s) of payment;
(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;
(5) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates, the place(s) of payment, and the record date or other method for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates;
(6) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;
(7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in satisfaction of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(9) any additional or different subordination terms applicable to the Securities of the series;
(10) the form of the Securities of the series, including the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication for such series;
(11) if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable (including denominations of foreign currency);
(12) any and all other terms with respect to such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture);
(13) whether the Securities of the series are issuable as a Global Security and, in such case, the identity of the Depositary for such series and any other or different terms in respect of such Global Security;
(14) whether the Securities of the series will be convertible into ordinary shares or other securities of the Company and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible, including the conversion price and the conversion period;
(15) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;
(16) any additional or different Events of Default or restrictive covenants provided for with respect to the Securities of the series;
(17) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or in specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 11.02 and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;
(18) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01, and/or the property, including securities of the Company, in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be payable and the terms and conditions of such payment in property, including whether at the option of the Company or the Securityholder; and
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(19) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Company shall pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the Securities of the series to any Securityholder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes.
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto. If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series. Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates. Notwithstanding Section 2.01(2) and unless otherwise expressly provided with respect to a series of Securities, the aggregate principal amount of a series of Securities may be increased and additional Securities of such series may be issued up to the maximum aggregate principal amount authorized with respect to such series as increased.
SECTION 2.02 FORM OF SECURITIES AND TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE.
The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate. The Securities may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.
SECTION 2.03 DENOMINATIONS: PROVISIONS FOR PAYMENT.
The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.01(11). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rates specified or provided for with respect to that series. Except as contemplated by Section 2.01(18), the principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in [_____________]; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee. Except as contemplated by Section 2.01(4), interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months. Except as contemplated by Section 2.01(5), the interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.03. Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such Holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
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(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment 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 Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date.
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee. Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities with respect to any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.
SECTION 2.04 EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION.
The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its President, or one of its Vice Presidents, or its Treasurer, or one of its Assistant Treasurers, attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature. The Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been a President or Vice President thereof, or of any Person who shall have been the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary thereof, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be the President or a Vice President, or the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. A Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence and the only evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by its President or any Vice President and its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture and 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 any Bankruptcy Law or other insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles and to other customary exceptions. The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
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SECTION 2.05 REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.
(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose in [_____________], for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose in [_____________], or such other location designated by the Company a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided shall be appointed as authorized by Board Resolution (the “Security Registrar”). Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount. All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered Holder or by such Holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.
(c) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer. The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption. The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.
SECTION 2.06 TEMPORARY SECURITIES.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the Holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose in [_____________], and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
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SECTION 2.07 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN SECURITIES.
In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith. In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof. Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
SECTION 2.08 CANCELLATION.
All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.09 BENEFITS OF INDENTURE.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the Holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of Article XIV, the holders of Senior Indebtedness) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the Holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of Article XIV, the holder of Senior Indebtedness).
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SECTION 2.10 AUTHENTICATING AGENT.
So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately. Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto. 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 that 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.
SECTION 2.11 GLOBAL SECURITIES.
(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that
(1) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all or a portion of the Outstanding Securities of such series,
(2) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee,
(3) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, and
(4) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to the Depositary, another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to the Depositary for such series, another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
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(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
(d) None of the Trustee, the Security Registrar or any paying agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner in a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Securityholders and all payments to be made to Securityholders under the Securities and this Indenture shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of the Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in the Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable procedures. The Trustee, the Security Registrar and any paying agent shall be entitled to rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners. The Trustee, the Security Registrar and any paying agent shall be entitled to deal with any depositary (including the Depositary), and any nominee thereof, that is the registered holder of any Global Security for all purposes of this Indenture relating to such Global Security (including the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest and additional amounts, if any, and the giving of instructions or directions by or to the owner or holder of a beneficial ownership interest in such Global Security) as the sole holder of such Global Security and shall have no obligations to the beneficial owners thereof. None of the Trustee, the Security Registrar or any paying agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any acts or omissions of any such depositary with respect to such Global Security, for the records of any such depositary, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of any such Global Security, for any transactions between such depositary and any participant in such depositary or between or among any such depositary, any such participant and/or any holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such Global Security.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying agent, or any other agent of the Company or any agent of the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any depositary (including the Depositary), as a Securityholder, with respect to such Global Security or impair, as between such depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of such Global Security.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND
PROVISIONS
SECTION 3.01 REDEMPTION.
The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.
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SECTION 3.02 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.
(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with the right reserved so to do, the Company shall (upon five Business Days prior notice to the Trustee, unless a shorter notice period shall be acceptable to the Trustee), or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to Holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered Holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the Holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction. Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company in [_____________], upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the Holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in whole or in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 45 days’ notice in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by its President or any Vice President, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such paying agent as it may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 3.03 PAYMENT UPON REDEMPTION.
(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an Interest Payment Date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered Holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).
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(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
SECTION 3.04 SINKING FUND.
The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
SECTION 3.05 SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.
The Company,
(1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and
(2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 3.06 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01 PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.
The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of each series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities.
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SECTION 4.02 MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.
So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency in [_____________], with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as herein above authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by its President or a Vice President and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency in [_____________] for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, notices and demands.
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 [_____________] for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
SECTION 4.03 PAYING AGENTS.
(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:
(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;
(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;
(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and
(4) that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient 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 this action or failure so to act.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary,
(1) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and
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(2) the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; 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.
SECTION 4.04 APPOINTMENT TO FILL VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE.
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.11, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
SECTION 4.05 COMPLIANCE WITH CONSOLIDATION PROVISIONS.
The Company will not, while any of the Securities remain Outstanding, consolidate with or merge into any other Person, in either case where the Company is not the survivor of such transaction, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of its property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person unless the provisions of Article X hereof are complied with.
SECTION 4.06 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, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such signer may have knowledge.
ARTICLE V
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY
THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 5.01 COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(1) not more than 15 days after each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.03) a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company; and
(2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.
SECTION 5.02 PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS WITH SECURITYHOLDERS.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of Holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).
(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities.
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SECTION 5.03 REPORTS BY THE COMPANY.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company has filed 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 Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with the 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 Exchange Act, 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.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees to transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, or reputable overnight delivery service that provides for evidence of receipt, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.
(d) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 5.03 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its respective covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates, except as otherwise provided herein).
SECTION 5.04 REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE.
(a) On or before July 15 in each year in which any of the Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding May 15, if and to the extent required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any stock exchange.
ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON
EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be occasioned by the subordination provisions of Article XIV or other subordination provisions applicable to a series of Securities or be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
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(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;
(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;
(4) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law
| (i) | commences a voluntary case, | |
| (ii) | consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, | |
| (iii) | consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or | |
| (iv) | makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or |
(5) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that
| (i) | is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, | |
| (ii) | appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property, or | |
| (iii) | orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days. |
(b) In each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, notwithstanding anything contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of that series or established with respect to that series pursuant to Section 2.01 to the contrary.
(c) At any time after the principal of the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and
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(2) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on Securities of that series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.06. No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company, and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
SECTION 6.02 COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.
(a) The Company covenants that
(1) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series, as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 90 days, or
(2) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration, pursuant to any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series or otherwise, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07.
(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.
(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the Holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under the Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.07.
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(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.07, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series. In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.03 APPLICATION OF MONEYS COLLECTED.
Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities and any money or other property distributable in respect of the company’s obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee (including any predecessor Trustee) under Section 7.07;
SECOND: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XIV or other subordination provisions applicable with respect to such series; and
THIRD: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively.
SECTION 6.04 LIMITATION ON SUITS.
No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless
(1) such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided;
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as trustee hereunder;
(3) such Holder or Holders shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; and
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and
(5) during such 60 day period, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
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Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the right of any Holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the Holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
SECTION 6.05 RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.
(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or on acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.
SECTION 6.06 CONTROL BY SECURITYHOLDERS.
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.01, shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders of Securities of any other series at the time Outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.01. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.01, may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.01(c)) or in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
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SECTION 6.07 UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Securities by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01 CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred: the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirement of this Indenture;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee, was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that series; and
(4) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (c) of this Section 7.01.
(c) None of the provisions contained in 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, it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(d) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of or be charged with having knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities, except Events of Default under Section 6.01(a)(1) or (a)(2), if and so long as it is acting as paying agent with respect to the Securities of such series, unless written notice of such Default Event or Event of Default, as the case may be, is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee from the Company or any Holder of Securities of such series, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.
(e) Whether or not 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 7.01.
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SECTION 7.02 NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.
If a Default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series and is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such Default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any Default of the character specified in clause (3) of Section 6.01(a) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof.
SECTION 7.03 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument signed in the name of the Company, by the President or any Vice President and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer thereof (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein);
(c) The Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(d) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to 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;
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents; 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.
(h) 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, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;
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(i) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;
(j) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture;
(k) the permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any actions enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty;
(l) anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Company or Guarantor has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;
(m) the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action.
SECTION 7.04 TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OR SECURITIES.
(a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same.
(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.01, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.
SECTION 7.05 MAY HOLD SECURITIES.
The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Security Registrar.
SECTION 7.06 MONEYS HELD IN TRUST.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
SECTION 7.07 COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), as the Company, and the Trustee may from time to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, damage, claims liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim whether asserted by the Company, any Securityholder or any other Person or liability including the compensation and expense of counsel in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
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(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.
(c) To the extent permitted by law, any compensation due or expense incurred by the Trustee after a default specified in or pursuant to Section 6.01 is intended to constitute an expense of administration under any then applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law. “Trustee” for purposes of this Section 7.07 shall include any predecessor Trustee but the negligence or bad faith of any Trustee shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee under this Section 7.07.
(d) The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the termination of this Indenture for any reason, or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee and shall apply with equal force and effect to the Trustee in its capacity as Authenticating Agent, Security Registrar or paying agent.
SECTION 7.08 RELIANCE ON OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warranty to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
SECTION 7.09 DISQUALIFICATION; CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the penultimate paragraph thereof. For purposes of Section 310(b)(i) of the Trust Indenture Act and to the extent permitted thereby, the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee in respect of the Securities of any series, shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest arising from its capacity as trustee in respect of the Securities of any other series.
SECTION 7.10 CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.
There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.11.
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SECTION 7.11 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.
(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.09 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.10 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, unless, in the case of a failure to comply with Section 7.09, the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in the penultimate paragraph of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the consent of the Company.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.12.
(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.
SECTION 7.12 ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; 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 the lien provided for in Section 7.07.
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(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor trustee shall accept such appointment and which
(1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates,
(2) shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and
(3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder; 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, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates, subject nevertheless to the lien provided for in Section 7.07.
(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.
(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 7.13 MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.
Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such Person shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.09 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.10, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
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SECTION 7.14 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 8.01 EVIDENCE OF ACTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Holders of Securities of that series in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing. If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
SECTION 8.02 PROOF OF EXECUTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.
(c) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
SECTION 8.03 WHO MAY BE DEEMED OWNERS.
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
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SECTION 8.04 CERTAIN SECURITIES OWNED BY COMPANY DISREGARDED.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
SECTION 8.05 ACTIONS BINDING ON FUTURE SECURITYHOLDERS.
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the Holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Securities of that series.
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 9.01 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency herein, in the Securities of any series;
(2) to comply with Article X;
(3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(4) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series);
(5) to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of Securities (prior to the issuance thereof), as herein set forth;
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(6) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect;
(7) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the Holders of any series of Securities; or
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 7.12.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.
SECTION 9.02 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.01 the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby:
(1) change the 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 any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01 or change the coin or currency in which any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date); or
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture;
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 6.06 relating to waivers of default, 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, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 7.12 and 9.01(8); or
(4) modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the subordination of such Security in a manner adverse to the holder thereof.
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A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series. It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
SECTION 9.03 EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
SECTION 9.04 SECURITIES AFFECTED BY SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Securities of any series, affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.
SECTION 9.05 EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by its Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of any requisite consents of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Company shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
ARTICLE X
SUCCESSOR ENTITY
SECTION 10.01 COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC.
Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company is not the survivor of such transaction), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture or established with respect to each series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 to be kept or performed by the Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect) satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.
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SECTION 10.02 SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED.
(a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by any successor entity by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee of the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture or established with respect to each series of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 to be performed by the Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor company, except in the case of a lease, shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
(c) Nothing contained in this Article shall require any action by the Company in the case of a consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company where the Company is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).
SECTION 10.03 EVIDENCE OF CONSOLIDATION, ETC. TO TRUSTEE.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply with the provisions of this Article.
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
SECTION 11.01 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE.
This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect with respect to a series of Securities (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such series 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 with respect to such series, when:
(1) either (A) all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) any Securities that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money or noncallable Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.05) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or (B) all Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, or (ii) will by their terms become due and payable within one year, or (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose (x) moneys in an amount, or (y) noncallable Governmental Obligations the scheduled principal of and interest on which in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (z) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the case of (y) or (z), in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, at maturity or upon redemption, all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be;
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(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all the conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities have been complied with. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to a series of Securities, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 7.07 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (y) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Sections 11.03 and 11.05 shall survive.
SECTION 11.02 DEFEASANCE.
The Company may, at its option and at any time (including notwithstanding the exercise by the Company of a Covenant Defeasance (as defined herein)), elect to have its obligations discharged with respect to a series of the Securities (“Legal Defeasance”). Such Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such series of Securities, except for (a) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities when such payments are due solely from the trust fund described in this Section, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such series of Securities concerning issuing temporary Securities, registration of transfer or exchange of such series of Securities, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities of such series and the maintenance of an office or agency for payments, (c) the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith and (d) the Legal Defeasance provisions of this Indenture. In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of the Company released with respect to covenants provided with respect to such series of Securities under Section 2.01(16), 9.01(4) and 9.01(7) of this Indenture (“Covenant Defeasance”) and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities. In the event of Covenant Defeasance, those events described under Section 6.01(a) with respect to the foregoing covenants will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of such series, (A) moneys in an amount, or (B) noncallable Governmental Obligations the scheduled principal of and interest on which in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the case of (B) or (C), in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, at maturity or upon redemption, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such series of Securities on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of such series of Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that the Holders of such series of Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
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(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or insofar as Events of Default under clauses (4) and (5) of Section 6.01(a) with respect to the Securities of such series are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;
(5) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with; and
(6) if such series of Securities are to be redeemed prior to final maturity (other than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made.
SECTION 11.03 DEPOSITED MONEYS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.
All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the Holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee. Funds held pursuant to this Section with respect to any series of Securities shall not be subject to the claims of the holders of Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series, provided, that at the time of the deposit of such funds with the Trustee under this Article, no event had occurred that would, under the subordination provisions related to such series, require that any payment to be made to the holders of such Securities be paid or paid over to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 11.04 PAYMENT OF MONEYS HELD BY PAYING AGENTS.
In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.
SECTION 11.05 REPAYMENT TO COMPANY.
Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the Holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the Holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.
ARTICLE XII
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, SHAREHOLDERS,
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 12.01 NO RECOURSE.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor entity, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or successor entity, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, shareholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor entity, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, shareholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.
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ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 13.01 EFFECT ON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 13.02 ACTIONS BY SUCCESSOR.
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
SECTION 13.03 SURRENDER OF COMPANY POWERS.
The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and as to any successor entity.
SECTION 13.04 NOTICES.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: c/o Bendon Limited, 8 Airpark Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland 2022, New Zealand. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
SECTION 13.05 GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY.
This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of [____________], and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State.
EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION RELATING TO THE TRUSTEE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE
SECTION 13.06 TREATMENT OF SECURITIES AS DEBT.
It is intended that the Securities will be treated as indebtedness and not as equity for federal income tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention.
SECTION 13.07 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.
(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
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(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include
(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 13.08 PAYMENTS ON BUSINESS DAYS.
Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
SECTION 13.09 CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.
SECTION 13.10 COUNTERPARTS.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 13.11 SEPARABILITY.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
SECTION 13.12 ASSIGNMENT.
The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company, will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.
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ARTICLE XIV
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 14.01 SUBORDINATION TERMS.
The payment by the Company of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on any series of Securities issued hereunder shall be subordinated to the extent set forth in an indenture supplemental hereto relating to such securities.
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
| NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| _______________, as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
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Exhibit 5.1
|
Mills Oakley ABN: 51 493 069 734
Our ref: DDSS/JYKS/3479574
All correspondence to: PO Box H316 AUSTRALIA SQUARE NSW 1215 DX 13025 Sydney Market Street
Contact Danny Simmons +61 2 9121 9073 Email: dsimmons@millsoakley.com.au
Partner Danny Simmons +61 2 9121 9073 Email: dsimmons@millsoakley.com.au | |
| 18 May 2021 (Sydney, Australia time) | |
|
The Directors Naked Brand Group Limited Unit 7, 35-39 William Street Double Bay NSW 2028 Australia | |
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Dear Sirs
Naked Brand Group Limited – Registration Statement
| 1. | Our role | |
| We have been requested to provide an Australian legal opinion to Naked Brand Group Limited (ACN 619 054 938) (Company) in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form F-3 (Registration Statement) to be filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (Securities Act), as amended, which registers the offer, issuance and sale by the Company, from time to time, of any one or more of the following types of securities, individually or in units (collectively, the Securities): | ||
| (a) | ordinary shares (Ordinary Shares); | |
| (b) | preference shares (Preference Shares); | |
| (c) | warrants for the purchase of Ordinary Shares or Preference Shares or any of the other securities that may be sold under the Registration Statement, or a combination of these securities; | |
| (d) | debt securities; and | |
| (e) | units comprised of one or more of the other classes of securities issued by the Company as described in the Registration Statement in any combination. | |
| 2. | Documents | |
| We have examined and relied on copies, drafts or conformed copies of the following documents: | ||
| (a) | a draft of the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits); | |
| (b) | a current company extract obtained as at 9.04am AEST on 7 April 2021, from the records of the Company which are available to the public on a database maintained by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); | |
| Page 2 of 4 |
| (c) | the Certificate of Registration dated 11 May 2017, which certifies that the Company is a registered company under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act) and is taken to be registered in the State of New South Wales in Australia; | |
| (d) | the Certificate of Registration on Change of Name dated 13 June 2018, which certifies that the Company changed its name to Naked Brand Group Limited on the date of such certificate; | |
| (e) | the Constitution of the Company (Constitution); | |
| (f) | a special resolution of the sole shareholder of the Company dated 19 June 2018 whereby the Company adopted the Constitution; and | |
| (g) | such corporate documents and records of the Company and such other instruments, certificates and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. |
| 3. | Opinion |
On the basis of the assumptions, qualifications and terms set out in this opinion, we are of the opinion that:
| (a) | (Incorporation) the Company is a corporation incorporated and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia, taken to be registered in New South Wales and is capable of suing and being sued in its corporate name; | |
| (b) | (Ordinary Shares validly issued) when the Ordinary Shares have been duly authorised by the Company and, are issued, sold and paid for as contemplated in the Registration Statement, Prospectus Supplement and any applicable Securities Agreement, and are registered in the Register of Members of the Company, such Ordinary Shares will be validly issued and fully paid; and | |
| (c) | (Preference Shares validly issued) when the Preference Shares have been duly authorised by the Company and, are issued, sold and paid for as contemplated in the Registration Statement, Prospectus Supplement and any applicable Securities Agreement, and are registered in the Register of Members of the Company, such Preference Shares will be validly issued and fully paid. |
| 4. | Assumptions |
We have assumed without investigation:
| (a) | the authenticity of all signatures, seals, duty stamps and markings; | |
| (b) | the completeness, and conformity to originals, of all non-original or incomplete documents submitted to us; | |
| (c) | the Register of Members of the Company is up to date and has been correctly completed in accordance with the Constitution of the Company and the Corporations Act; | |
| (d) | the rights attaching to the Preference Shares in relation to dividends, repayment of capital, participation in surplus assets and profits, voting, redeemability and convertibility will be validly determined prior to their issue in accordance with the Constitution and the Corporations Act; |
| (e) | the board of directors of the Company will approve the allotment and issue of the Ordinary Shares and Preference Shares in accordance with the Constitution and the Corporations Act and such shares will otherwise be issued in compliance with the Constitution and the Corporations Act; | |
| (f) | at the time of the execution and delivery of any definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement between the Company and any third party under which any Securities may be issued (Securities Agreement), the Securities Agreement will be the valid and legally binding obligation of such third party, enforceable against such third party in accordance with its terms; | |
| (g) | at the time of the issuance and sale of any of the Securities, the terms of the Securities, and their issuance and sale, will have been established so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; |
| Page 3 of 4 |
| (h) | at the time of the issuance and sale of any of the Securities, the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (including any post-effective amendments (shall not have been terminated or rescinded; | |
| (i) | the Company will deliver and file an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to an offering of Securities in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations (Prospectus Supplement); | |
| (j) | upon issue, each holder of the Ordinary Shares will have fully paid the amount payable to the Company for their Ordinary Shares; | |
| (k) | upon issue, each holder of the Preference Shares will have fully paid the amount payable to the Company for their Preference Shares; | |
| (l) | that any document recording the authorisation of the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement, including any issue of Ordinary Shares or Preference Shares, is a true, complete and accurate record of an authorisation which is valid in all respects; | |
| (m) | that all authorisations, approvals or licences required under any law (including any Relevant Law (as defined below)) for any party (other than the Company) to enter into or to perform any of its obligations under a transaction contemplated by the Registration Statement have been obtained, remain valid and subsisting and have been complied with; | |
| (n) | that no law or official directive of any jurisdiction, other than a Relevant Jurisdiction (as defined below), affects any of the opinions expressed; | |
| (o) | that the implementation of the transactions or matters contemplated by the Registration Statement do not involve an illegal or improper purpose under any law, including any Relevant Law (as defined below); | |
| (p) | upon issue, the Ordinary Shares will be, duly registered, and will continue to be registered, in the Company’s Register of Members; | |
| (q) | upon issue, the Preference Shares will be, duly registered, and will continue to be registered, in the Company’s Register of Members; |
| (r) | the details revealed by our search of public registers maintained by governmental or other regulatory authorities are true and correct and up to date at the date of our search and have been properly and accurately recorded in those registers by those authorities. We note that ASIC expressly disclaims any liability arising from the use of its service; | |
| (s) | that the Registration Statement has not been amended in any material respect to the draft provided to us and that it was duly filed with the SEC; | |
| (t) | insofar as any obligation under any document examined is to be performed in any jurisdiction other than a Relevant Jurisdiction (as defined below), its performance will not be illegal or unenforceable under the law of that jurisdiction; and | |
| (u) | that the formalities for execution required by the law of the place of execution of each document examined have or will be complied with. |
| 5. | Qualifications |
This opinion is subject to the following qualifications:
| (a) | this opinion is given only in respect to the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia in force as at 9:00am (AEST) on the date of this opinion (Relevant Jurisdiction); and |
| Page 4 of 4 |
| (b) | we express no opinion as to: |
| (i) | the laws of any jurisdictions other than the laws of the Relevant Jurisdiction (Relevant Law); | ||
| (ii) | the implications of any pending or foreshadowed legislative amendment or proposal in the Relevant Jurisdiction; | ||
| (iii) | factual or commercial matters; or | ||
| (iv) | taxation, including the effect of any Relevant Laws relating to taxation (including, without limitation, the imposition or payment of any stamp duty in connection with the transactions contemplated in the Registration Statement). |
| 6. | Benefit and reliance |
| (a) | This opinion is issued to the Company only for the Company’s sole benefit and may not, without our prior written consent, be: |
| (i) | used or relied on by another person or used or relied upon for any other purpose. We expressly exclude any duty to any person other than the addressee in relation to this opinion, unless otherwise agreed by us in writing; | ||
| (ii) | transmitted or disclosed to another person, except: |
| (A) | to persons who in the ordinary course of the Company’s business have access to the Company’s papers and records on the basis that they will make no further disclosure; | |||
| (B) | if required by law or in accordance with an official directive; or | |||
| (C) | in connection with any litigation in relation to the documents mentioned in this document; or |
| (iii) | filed with a government or other agency or quoted or referred to in a public document. |
| (b) | This opinion is strictly limited to the matters stated in it and does not apply by implication to other matters. | |
| (c) | No assumption or qualification in this opinion limits any other assumption or qualification in it. | |
| (d) | We have not provided, and are not required to provide, advice on the legal effect of any of the assumptions or qualifications in this opinion. Persons entitled to rely on this opinion should obtain their own legal advice on the effect, completeness and extent of application of those assumptions and qualifications. |
This opinion is governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. We are under, and assume, no obligation to inform you of, or advise you on, any future changes to these or any other laws.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to the use of our name as your counsel, and to all references made to us in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectuses forming a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are “experts” within the meaning of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder with respect to any part of the Registration Statement.
Yours sincerely
DANIEL
SIMMONS
PARTNER
Exhibit 5.2
GRAUBARD MILLER
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174
May 18, 2021
Naked Brand Group Limited
Unit 7, 35-39 William Street
Double Bay NSW 2028
Australia
| Re: | Registration Statement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as United States counsel for Naked Brand Group Limited, an Australian company limited by shares (“Company”), in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (“Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the proposed offer, issuance and sale by the Company, from time to time, of (i) ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares”), (iii) preference shares, no par value (“Preference Shares”), (iv) warrants (“Warrants”) to purchase Ordinary Shares, Preference Shares, or any other class of securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, (iv) senior and subordinated debt securities (“Debt Securities”), to be issued in one or more series under a senior indenture or subordinated indenture, each in the forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time (each an “Indenture” and collectively the “Indentures”), and (v) units comprised of Ordinary Shares, Preference Shares, or any other class of securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement in any combination (the “Units,” and together with the Ordinary Shares, Preference Shares, Warrants and Debt Securities, the “Shelf Securities”), to be offered on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis pursuant to provisions of Rule 415 under the Act.
This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement.
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have examined the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto and such statutes, records and other documents as we have deemed relevant.
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies thereof. We also have assumed that (i) the Registration Statement shall be effective and comply with all applicable laws at the time the Shelf Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement, (ii) a prospectus and prospectus supplement describing each class or series of Shelf Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement shall have been filed with the SEC, (iii) all Shelf Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and the securities or blue sky laws of the various states, as applicable, and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement, (iv) resolutions authorizing the Company to register, offer, sell and issue the Shelf Securities shall have been duly adopted and shall remain in full force and effect, (v) the number of ordinary shares and Preference Shares to be issued, together with all other ordinary shares that are outstanding or reserved for issuance, shall not exceed the number of such shares authorized under the Company’s Constitution, (vi) any Debt Securities and the Indentures (including any supplemental indentures), any Warrants and/or warrant agreements, as applicable, any Units and/or unit agreements, as applicable, and any definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreements (collectively, the “Securities Agreements”) shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto; (vii) each of the Securities Agreements shall provide that New York law governs such agreement, (viii) the execution and delivery of the Securities Agreements and the issuance and sale of Shelf Securities, will not violate or constitute a default or breach under any agreement or instrument binding the Company, any applicable law, rule or regulation, any judicial or regulatory order or decree of any governmental authority, or any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority, (ix) the interest rate, if applicable, on the Shelf Securities shall not exceed the maximum lawful rate permitted from time to time under applicable law, (x) the trustee under the Indenture shall have been determined to be eligible and qualified under section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (xi) the Shelf Securities shall have been duly recorded, as applicable, and the certificates representing the Shelf Securities, if any, shall have been duly authorized, executed, attested, authenticated and/or countersigned, as applicable, and delivered, and (xii) the Company is, and shall remain, validly existing as a corporation in good standing (to the extent such concept exists) under the laws of Australia. In addition, we have made such other examinations of law and fact as we have deemed relevant in order to form a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. When (A) the Indenture (including any supplemental indenture) relating to the Debt Securities in a particular series has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (B) the Company’s board of directors has taken all necessary corporate action in conformity with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to approve the form, terms, execution and issuance and delivery of such Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, and (C) such Debt Securities have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture (including any supplemental indenture) and the definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against payment therefor, or upon exchange or conversion of any other Shelf Security in accordance with the terms of the Shelf Security or the instrument governing the Shelf Security providing for the exchange or conversion as approved by the Company’s board of directors, for the consideration approved by the Company’s board of directors, such Debt Securities will constitute binding obligations of the Company.
2. When (A) the warrant agreement, if any, relating to an issuance of Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (B) the Company’s board of directors has taken all necessary corporate action in conformity with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to approve the form, terms, execution and issuance and delivery of the Warrants, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, and (C) the Warrants have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable warrant agreement, if any, and the definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Company’s board of directors against payment of the consideration therefor as provided therein, such Warrants will constitute binding obligations of the Company.
3. When (A) the unit agreement, if any, relating to an issuance of Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (B) the Company’s board of directors has taken all necessary corporate action in conformity with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to approve the form, terms, execution and issuance and delivery of the Units, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, and (C) the Units have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable unit agreement, if any, and the definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Company’s board of directors against payment of the consideration therefor as provided therein, such Units will constitute binding obligations of the Company.
Our opinion that any document constitutes a binding obligation is qualified by reference to (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, including, without limitation, laws relating to fraudulent transfers or conveyances, preferences and equitable subordination; and (ii) limitations imposed by general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
We express no opinion regarding the effectiveness of (i) any waiver of stay, extension or usury laws or of unknown future rights; (ii) any waiver (whether or not stated as such) under the Securities Agreements of, or any consent thereunder relating to, unknown future rights or the rights of any party thereto existing, or duties owing to it, as a matter of law; (iii) any waiver (whether or not stated as such) contained in the Securities Agreements of rights of any party, or duties owing to it, that is broadly or vaguely stated or does not describe the right or duty purportedly waived with reasonable specificity; (iv) provisions relating to indemnification, exculpation or contribution, to the extent such provisions may be held unenforceable as contrary to public policy or federal or state securities laws or due to the negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified party; (v) any purported fraudulent transfer “savings” clause; (vi) any provision in any Securities Agreement waiving the right to object to venue in any court; (vii) any agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of any federal court; (viii) any waiver of the right to jury trial or (ix) any provision to the effect that every right or remedy is cumulative and may be exercised in addition to any other right or remedy or that the election of some particular remedy does not preclude recourse to one or more others.
No opinion is expressed herein other than as to the corporate law of the State of Delaware, the laws of the State of New York, and the federal securities law of the United States of America.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement, to the use of our name as counsel to the Company, and to all references made to us in the Registration Statement and the prospectuses forming a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ GRAUBARD MILLER |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Naked Brand Group Limited
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement on our report dated May 18, 2021, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Naked Brand Group Limited, appearing in the Company’s Form 20-F, for the year ended January 31, 2021.
We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus.
| /s/ BDO Audit Pty Ltd | |
| BDO Audit Pty Ltd | |
| Sydney, Australia | |
| May 18, 2021 |