Cenntro Inc F-3, filed Oct 19, 2020
Cenntro Inc. (CENN)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 19, 2020
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) |
c/o Bendon Limited
8 Airpark Drive
Airport Oaks
Auckland 2022,
New Zealand
+64 9 275 000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of each registrant’s principal executive offices)
Justin Davis-Rice, Executive Chairman
c/o Bendon Limited
1/23 Court Road
Double Bay
NSW 2028, Australia
+64 9 275 000
(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. [ ]
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 Rule413(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(1) | Amount
to be registered | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | Amount
of Registration Fee (2) | |||||||||
| Ordinary Shares, without par value | (3) | (3) | (3) | |||||||||
| Preference Shares, without par value | (3) | (3) | (3) | |||||||||
| Warrants | (3) | (3) | (3) | |||||||||
| Debt Securities | (3) | (3) | (3) | |||||||||
| Units | (3) | (3) | (3) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 200,000,000 | $ | 21,820 | ||||||||
| (1) | The securities registered by this registration statement may be sold separately, together with other securities registered or as units consisting of a combination of securities registered hereunder. As permitted by Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act and General Instruction II.C to Form F-3, the number of securities of each class of securities registered hereunder is not specified. The registrant is registering hereunder an indeterminate number of ordinary shares, preference shares, warrants to purchase any of the securities offered hereby, debt securities and units comprised of any of the securities offered hereby of the registrant as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices. The maximum offering price for each class of securities will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance of the securities registered by this registration statement. In no event, however, will the maximum aggregate offering price of all securities issued under this registration statement exceed $200,000,000. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, this registration statement also registers such indeterminate number of ordinary shares as may be issued from time to time upon conversion of, or exchange for, securities registered hereunder or as a result of share splits, share capitalizations, or similar transactions. |
| (2) | Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) promulgated under the Securities Act. |
| (3) | Omitted pursuant to General Instruction II.C of Form F-3 and Rule 457(o) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The proposed amount to be registered, maximum offering price per unit and maximum aggregate offering price per class of security will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder. |
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement contains two prospectuses:
| ● | a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to $200,000,000 of our ordinary shares, preference shares, warrants, debt securities and units; and | |
| ● | a sales agreement prospectus supplement covering the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to $50,000,000 of our ordinary shares that may be issued and sold under a sales agreement with Maxim Group, LLC. |
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The sales agreement prospectus supplement immediately follows the base prospectus. The $50,000,000 of ordinary shares that may be offered, issued and sold by us under the sales agreement prospectus supplement is included in the $200,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us under the base prospectus. The sales agreement prospectus supplement will be delivered together with the base prospectus.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion, dated October 19, 2020
NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED
$200,000,000
Ordinary Shares
Preference Shares
Warrants
Debt Securities
Units
By this prospectus, we may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, our ordinary shares, preference shares, warrants, debt securities and units, which we sometimes refer to collectively as the “shelf securities,” for aggregate gross proceeds not to exceed $200,000,000. The securities may be offered separately, together, or in series, and in amounts, at prices, and on other terms to be determined at the time of each offering. We will provide the specific terms of the securities to be sold in a prospectus supplement.
We may sell the securities 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 October 16, 2020 was US$0.10 per share.
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 _______, 2020
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 trademarks include, among others, Bendon, Bendon Man, Davenport, Fayreform, Lovable, Pleasure State, VaVoom, Evollove, Hickory and Frederick’s of Hollywood and other related trademarks. 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 with a maximum aggregate offering price of up to US$200,000,000.
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, 2020 (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,
| ● | “Bendon” refers to Bendon Limited, one of our operating subsidiaries; | |
| ● | “FOH” refers to FOH Online Corp., one of our operating subsidiaries; and | |
| ● | “we,” “us,” “our,” or “our company,” refers to Naked Brand Group Limited, our subsidiaries, and our predecessor operations. |
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.
Overview
We operate in the highly competitive specialty retail business. We are a designer, distributor, wholesaler, and retailer of women’s and men’s intimate apparel, as well as women’s swimwear. Our merchandise is sold through company-owned retail stores in Australia and New Zealand; through online channels in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.; and through wholesale partners in Australia and New Zealand and, on a more limited basis, through wholesale partners and distributors in the United Kingdom and the European Union (collectively, the “E.U.”).
We previously sold our merchandise through wholesale partners in the U.S., as well. However, in order to improve our profitability, we have exited the U.S. wholesale market, although we continue to sell in the U.S. through online channels. We also substantially reduced the size of our operations in the E.U. wholesale market.
Our Brands
Bendon
Our brands include our flagship Bendon brand, as well as our Bendon Man, Davenport, Fayreform, Lovable, Pleasure State, VaVoom, Evollove, and Hickory brands. We sell products under these brands at 60 Bendon stores in Australia and New Zealand and online at www.bendonlingerie.com. Additionally, we sell products under these brands in approximately 325 wholesale stores in Australia, New Zealand and the E.U., and through distributors in the E.U.
Frederick’s of Hollywood
Since 1946, Frederick’s of Hollywood has set the standard for innovative apparel, introducing the push-up bra and the padded bra 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 online license for the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, 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.
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Former Brands
We previously sold products under the Stella McCartney, Heidi Klum and Naked brands. Our license to the Stella McCartney brand terminated on June 30, 2018. On January 31, 2020, we entered into a termination agreement with Heidi Klum and Heidi Klum Company, LLC, which provides for the termination of the license agreement between the parties. On January 28, 2020, we sold all of our right, title and interest in the Naked brands to Gogogo SRL. We may continue selling existing Heidi Klum branded products, as well as Heidi Klum branded products manufactured on or prior to June 30, 2020 under existing contracts. The right to continue selling such products will continue until six months after the date of the termination agreement in the Northern Hemisphere and until 12 months after the date of the termination agreement in the Southern Hemisphere. We also may continue selling any inventory bearing the Naked brand that was in existence as of the closing.
Our Strengths
We believe the following competitive strengths contribute to our leading market position and differentiate us from our competition:
Distinct, Well-Recognized Brands
Our iconic brands, including Bendon, Pleasure State, Fayreform and Frederick’s of Hollywood, have come to represent a unique lifestyle across its targeted customers. Our brands allow us to target markets across the economic spectrum, across demographics and across the world. We believe our flagship brands and prominent, highly recognized creative directors provide us with a competitive advantage.
In-Store Experience and Store Operations
We view our customers’ in-store experience as an important vehicle for communicating the image of each brand. We utilize visual presentation of merchandise, in-store marketing and our sales associates to reinforce the image represented by the brands. Our in-store marketing is designed to convey the principal elements and personality of each brand. The store design, furniture, fixtures and music are all carefully planned and coordinated to create a unique shopping experience. Every brand displays merchandise uniformly to ensure a consistent store experience, regardless of location. Store managers receive detailed plans designating fixture and merchandise placement to ensure coordinated execution of the company-wide merchandising strategy. Our sales associates and managers are a central element in creating the atmosphere of the stores by providing a high level of customer service.
Product Development, Sourcing and Logistics
We believe a large part of our success comes from frequent and innovative product launches, as well as launches of new collections from our existing brands. Our merchant, design and sourcing teams have a long history of bringing innovative products to our customers. Our key vendor partners are industry leaders in both innovation and social responsibility. We work closely together to form a world class supply chain that is dynamic and efficient.
Highly Experienced Leadership Team
Our management team is led by Justin Davis-Rice, Executive Chairman, who joined Bendon in 2011 and is responsible for leading our revenue growth. Prior to joining Bendon, Mr. Davis-Rice co-founded Pleasure State. Anna Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, brings to us a track record of over 25 years’ experience driving growth across a number of industries, including consumer electronics, outdoor adventure and intimate apparel. The rest of our senior management team has a wealth of retail and business experience at The Warehouse Group, Cotton On Group and Hewlett Packard. We have developed a strong and collaborative culture aligned around our goals to create the most beautiful, innovative lingerie that is designed to enhance comfort and fit for women all over the world.
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Recent Developments
COVID-19
As of the time of this prospectus supplement, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been broad reaching, including impacts to our retail and wholesale businesses. We temporarily closed our bricks and mortar stores for eight weeks across March to May 2020. In addition, due to a state of emergency being declared, the Australian stores in the state of Victoria have been closed temporarily from August 3, 2020 and the Auckland stores in New Zealand are trading again after being closed for two weeks. However, we have been able to continue to sell merchandise through our two online stores and fulfil online orders from the New Zealand and U.S. warehouses.
To mitigate the significant impact on cashflow we worked with suppliers to get support with delayed payments and reached agreements with certain key suppliers to push back payments. In addition, we continue to negotiate support from landlords to provide rent abatements through the period of closure and until revenue levels return to previous levels. Employees agreed to work reduced hours and we have applied for government wage subsidies from the New Zealand and Australian governments. At the date of this prospectus supplement, we have received NZ$2.0 million in subsidies from the New Zealand government and AU$0.7 million in subsidies from the Australian government. We have also been in discussion with the Bank of New Zealand (“BNZ”) to defer loan repayments (see “Senior Secured Credit Facility” below). We are investigating other government funding packages for which we may be eligible. The impact of COVID-19 in Asia delayed stock flow due to temporary factory closures. We are working with suppliers who are now back operating to prioritize and reschedule orders and inventory flow has resumed.
The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, and, as such, it is uncertain as to the full magnitude that the pandemic will have on our financial condition, liquidity, and future results of operations. Management and the directors are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and forward planning to minimize the total impact to the group.
For more information, see Item 5 of our Annual Report.
ATM
We are party to an equity distribution agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”), dated as of August 20, 2020 and amended as of September 25, 2020, pursuant to which we may sell, from time to time, through Maxim, ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to US$18,500,000. Sales of the Shares, 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. Pursuant to the Sales Agreement, through October 15, 2020, we have sold an aggregate of 133,087,150 ordinary shares for gross proceeds of US$17,568,805 (NZ$26,619,402) and net proceeds of US$17,041,741 (NZ$25,820,819), after payment to Maxim of an aggregate of US$527,064 (NZ$798,582) in commissions.
In addition, we have entered into a new equity distribution agreement (the “New Sales Agreement”) with Maxim, dated as of October 19, 2020, pursuant to which we may sell, from time to time, through Maxim, ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to US$50,000,000. Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we intend to terminate the prior Sales Agreement.
Senior Secured Credit Facility
Effective March 12, 2020, we entered into a Deed of Amendment and Restatement (the “Restated Facility Agreement”) that amended and restated that certain 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 BNZ, as lender. Under the Restated Facility Agreement, BNZ will continue to make available (i) a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”), for which the facility limit, as amended, currently is NZ$16.5 million, and (ii) an instrument facility (the “Instrument Facility”), for which the facility limit is NZ$1.345 million. The Revolving Facility has an outstanding principal balance of NZ$16.5 million as of the date of this prospectus. We will reduce our indebtedness under the Restated Facility Agreement by an aggregate of NZ$7 million in periodic installments through November 30, 2021, which will also reduce the facility limit under the Revolving Facility. The facilities terminate on March 12, 2022. As at January 31, 2020, we were compliant under the facility covenants then in effect. However, we have not been compliant with the financial covenants under the Restated Facility Agreement, due to the impact of COVID-19, and we are currently in negotiations with BNZ to revise these temporarily. For more information, see Item 5.B of our Annual Report.
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Convertible Promissory Notes
Notes Issued in October, November, and December 2019 and January, February, and April 2020
In each of October, November and December 2019 and January, February, and April 2020, we completed a private placement of a convertible promissory note (each, a “Prior Note”) and a warrant to purchase ordinary shares to either St. George Investments LLC or Iliad Research and Trading L.P., which are affiliates of one another (together, the “Affiliated Holders”). Each private placement of a Prior Note was made pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement with the applicable Affiliated Holder. The aggregate purchase price of the Prior Notes was US$15,500,000 (NZ$23,485,000). Each of the Prior Notes was issued with an original issue discount of 5%, and certain expenses of the Affiliated Holder were added to the balance of each Prior Note. In addition, the applicable Affiliated Holder had the right to exchange each warrant for a 5% increase in the outstanding balance of the related Prior Note, a right the Affiliated Holder exercised in each case. Because we did not timely complete an equity financing as required by each of the Prior Notes and did not timely file a registration statement as required by the Prior Notes issued in February and April 2020, the outstanding balance of each applicable Prior Note was increased by 10% for each such occurrence.
Each of the Prior Notes issued in October, November and December 2019 and January 2020 had an initial fixed conversion price of US$5.00 per share (in the case of the October 2019 note) or US$4.00 per share (in the case of the other notes). Pursuant to amendments in January 2020, on three occasions, we temporarily reduced the conversion price of the Prior Note issued in December 2019. Furthermore, pursuant to amendments in April and June 2020, we modified the Prior Notes issued in October, November and December 2019 and January 2020 so that they could be converted at a floating conversion price, provided we approved each such conversion. Subject to our approval, the holders of such Prior Notes could convert the outstanding balance of the notes into ordinary shares at a conversion price per share that was equal to (i) a percentage of not less than 75%, multiplied by (ii) the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the ordinary shares in the preceding 20 trading days, but in any event not less than a specified floor price. As of October 15, 2020, the entire outstanding balance of the Prior Notes issued in October, November and December 2019 and January 2020, or approximately US$15,000,000 (NZ$22,700,000), had been converted into 35,746,486 ordinary shares.
In August 2020, we entered into a similar amendment with respect the Prior Note issued in February 2020, so that it also may be converted at a floating conversion price, provided we approve each such conversion, on the same terms as described above. The Prior Note issued in April 2020 remains convertible only at its initial fixed conversion price. As of October 15, 2020, US$350,000 (NZ$530,000) of the Prior Note issued in February 2020 had been converted into 1,875,670 ordinary shares.
Each of the remaining Prior Notes issued in February and April 2020 bears interest at 20% per annum, compounded daily, and matures two years after its issuance. As of October 15, 2020, the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the remaining Prior Notes was approximately US$6,489,000 (NZ$9,831,000).
Note and Purchase Warrant Issued in July 2020
In July 2020, we completed a private placement of a convertible promissory note (the “July Note”) and a warrant to purchase ordinary shares (the “July Purchase Warrant”) to one of the Affiliated Holders, Iliad Research Trading L.P., pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement, for an aggregate purchase price of US$8,000,000 (NZ$12,100,000). The July Note was issued with an original issue discount of 5%, and certain expenses of the Affiliated Holder were added to the balance of the July Note, for an original principal balance of US$8,420,000. We also granted a financing rebate to the Affiliated Holder, resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately US$7,200,000 (NZ$10,900,000) from the sale of the July Note. The July Note accrues interest at the following rate: (i) for a period of 90 days starting on its issuance date, 2.0% per annum, (ii) for the next 90 days, 10.0% per annum and (iii) thereafter, 15.0% per annum. The July Note matures on the second anniversary of its issuance.
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The July Note is convertible at the election of the Affiliated Holder into ordinary shares at a conversion price equal to the lower of US$0.2424 (80% of the closing bid price of the ordinary shares on the trading day immediately prior to August 24, 2020, the date the resale registration statement for the ordinary shares underlying the July Note was declared effective). In addition, during the ten-day period following August 24, 2020, we had the right to require the Affiliated Holder to convert the entire principal amount of the July Note in excess of US$2,100,000, and all accrued interest on the July Note, into ordinary shares. Between August 25 and September 2, 2020, the Affiliated Holder exercised its right to convert US$1,780,960 in principal amount of the July Note, resulting in the issuance of 7,347,195 ordinary shares. On September 3, 2020, we exercised our right in full to require conversion of the July Note. To the extent the Affiliated Holder would have beneficially owned more than 9.9% of our outstanding ordinary shares after such required conversion, we issued to the Affiliated Holder “pre-funded” warrants (the “July Pre-Funded Warrants”) in lieu of such shares. As a result, we issued 3,316,521 ordinary shares and a July Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase 15,492,344 ordinary shares to the Affiliated Holder on September 3, 2020. As of October 15, 2020, the Affiliated Holder had exercised the July Pre-Funded Warrant in full. As of such date, the outstanding balance of the July Note was approximately US$2,105,000 (NZ$3,189,000).
The July Purchase Warrant entitles the Affiliated Holder to purchase ordinary shares at an exercise price of US$0.6707 per share. In addition, if the exercise price of the July Purchase Warrants is higher than the last closing bid price of the ordinary shares, the July Purchase Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis for a number of shares equal to the Black-Scholes value per share underlying the July Purchase Warrant, multiplied by the number of shares as to which the July Purchase Warrant is being exercised, divided by the closing bid price as of two business days prior to the exercise date, but in any event not less than the floor price specified in the July Purchase Warrant. For this purpose, the Black-Scholes value per share underlying the July Purchase Warrant is a fixed value as set forth in the July Purchase Warrant. The July Purchase Warrant expires on July 24, 2025. As of October 15, 2020, the July Purchase Warrant had been exercised as to 7,251,581 ordinary shares on a cashless exercise basis using the Black-Scholes value, resulting in the issuance of 31,253,032 ordinary shares, and 11,884,783 ordinary shares remain subject to the July Purchase Warrant.
Bendon Conversion Shares
On October 5, 2020, we and one of our operating subsidiaries, Bendon, entered into a settlement agreement with each of (i) Timothy D. Connell and (ii) William Gibson and Ivory Castle Limited (collectively, the “Lenders”). The Lenders had alleged that specific repayment terms of loans made by them were not met as promised and sought repayment of the loans. Pursuant to the settlement agreements, the Lenders agreed to settle the dispute in consideration for Bendon’s issuance to them of redeemable conversion shares of Bendon (the “Bendon Conversion Shares”) with an aggregate value of US$3,789,654. The Bendon Conversion Shares constitute a separate share class in Bendon, confer no voting rights on the Lenders, have no rights to dividends or distributions by Bendon, have the right to receive any dividends declared and paid by our company on an as-converted basis, are redeemable by Bendon at any time at a price of NZ$1,000 (US$662.90) per share and are redeemable by Bendon at a price of NZ$0.01 per share if a Lender’s Settlement Agreement is terminated. The Bendon Conversion Shares are convertible into our ordinary shares at a conversion price equal to the closing market price of our ordinary shares on the trading day immediately preceding the date that the Lenders or Bendon, as applicable, delivers a notice of conversion, subject to a floor of US$0.05 per share (which minimum amount is subject to adjustment for any share dividend, subdivision, or combination of share capital or any similar transaction, including any reverse split of Naked’s shares). The Bendon Conversion shares are not convertible by a Lender or Bendon to the extent that, after giving effect to the issuance of our ordinary shares issuable upon such conversion, the Lender or any of its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% of the total number of our outstanding ordinary shares. Assuming that a conversion notice was delivered on October 15, 2020, the conversion price would have been US$0.11 per share and Bendon Conversion Shares would have been convertible into 34,451,400 ordinary shares, subject to the limitation on conversion described above. For more information, see our Report of Foreign Issuer on Form 6-K filed October 5, 2020.
Nasdaq Noncompliance
On March 11, 2020, we received a notice from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department stating that, for the previous 30 consecutive business days, the closing bid price for the ordinary shares had been below the minimum of US$1.00 per share required for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). The notification letter stated that we would be afforded 180 calendar days to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. In addition, Nasdaq has tolled the compliance period from April 16, 2020 through June 30, 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19. Accordingly, we have until November 23, 2020 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 US$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 initial 180-day period, we may be eligible for an additional 180 calendar days.
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The Nasdaq notification has no effect at this time on the listing of the ordinary shares, and the ordinary shares continue to trade under the symbol “NAKD.”
Corporate Information
Our principal office is located at 8 Airpark Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland 2022, New, Zealand, and our telephone number is +64 9 275 0000. Our registered office is located at 1/23 Court Road, Double Bay, New South Wales 2028, Australia. 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.
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, 2020, as amended, which is incorporated herein by reference. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” on page 32.
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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 up to US$200,000,000 of 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.
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 in our senior credit facility with BNZ, 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:
| ● | expectations regarding industry trends and the size and growth rates of addressable markets; | |
| ● | our business plan and our growth strategies, including plans for 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 ability to raise any necessary capital; | ||
| ● | our ability to maintain the strength of our brand or to expand our brand to new products and geographies; | ||
| ● | 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 compete in our markets effectively; | ||
| ● | our ability to manage our growth effectively; | ||
| ● | poor performance during our peak season affecting our operating results for the full year; | ||
| ● | our indebtedness adversely affecting our financial condition; | ||
| ● | our ability to maintain relationships with our select number of suppliers; | ||
| ● | our ability to manage our product distribution through our retail partners and international distributors; | ||
| ● | the success of our marketing programs; | ||
| ● | business interruptions because of a disruption at our headquarters; | ||
| ● | fluctuations in raw materials costs or currency exchange rates; | ||
| ● | the success of our business restructuring; and | ||
| ● | 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.
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.
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
The following table sets forth our capitalization at January 31, 2020 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, 2020 (Historical) | As at January 31, 2020 (Pro Forma)(1) | ||||||||||||||
| NZ$ | US$ (2) | NZ$ | US$ (2) | |||||||||||||
| Borrowings | 38,913 | 25,683 | 27,830 | 18,368 | ||||||||||||
| Share Capital | 170,913 | 112,327 | 231,021 | 152,474 | ||||||||||||
| Accumulated Losses | (176,595 | ) | (116,553 | ) | (176,595 | ) | (116,553 | ) | ||||||||
| Reserves | 118 | 78 | 118 | 78 | ||||||||||||
| Total Capitalization | (6,284 | ) | (4,147 | ) | 54,544 | 35,999 | ||||||||||
| (1) | The pro forma information reflects the following transactions: |
| ● | On February 12, 2020, we completed a private placement of a Prior Note and a warrant to purchase ordinary shares, for a purchase price of US$3.0m, with a principal balance before discount and expenses of US$3.17m. The holder exercised the right to exchange the warrant for a 5% increase in the balance of the February Prior Note, and as a result the warrant was cancelled, and the balance of the Prior Note was increased by approximately US$0.2m. We also did not timely complete an equity financing and did not timely file a registration statement as required by the Prior Note, and as a result the outstanding balance of the note was subjected to a 10% premium for each such occurrence, or an aggregate of approximately US$0.7m. The Prior Note accrues interest at a rate of 20% per annum, compounded daily. |
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| ● | On April 15, 2020, we completed a private placement of a Prior Note and a warrant to purchase ordinary shares, for a purchase price of US$1.5m, with a principal balance before discount and expenses of US$1.595m. The holder exercised the right to exchange the warrant for a 5% increase in the balance of the April Prior Note, and as a result the warrant was cancelled, and the balance of the Prior Note was increased by approximately US$0.1m. We also did not timely complete an equity financing and did not timely file a registration statement as required by the Prior Note, and as a result the outstanding balance of the note was subjected to a 10% premium for each such occurrence, or an aggregate of approximately US$0.4m. The Prior Note accrues interest at a rate of 20% per annum, compounded daily. | |
| ● | On July 3, 2020, we agreed to exchange one of our outstanding promissory notes, with an outstanding balance of approximately US$1.36m, for 1,666,667 of our ordinary shares. | |
| ● | From February 1, 2020 through October 15, 2020, an aggregate of US$14.5 million (NZ$22.0 million) of the outstanding balance of the Prior Notes issued in October, November and December 2019 and January 2020, representing all of the outstanding balance of such notes, and US$350,000 (NZ$530,000) of the outstanding balance of the Prior Note issued in February 2020 was converted into 37,141,676 ordinary shares. | |
| ● | On July 24, 2020, we completed a private placement of the July Note and the July Purchase Warrant, for a purchase price of US$8.0 million, with an original issue discount of 5%, certain expenses added to the principal balance, and a financing rebate granted to the investor, resulting an initial balance of the July Note of US$8,420,000 (NZ$12,758,000) and net proceeds to us of approximately US$7,200,000 (NZ$10,900,000). The July Note accrues interest at the following rate: (i) for a period of 90 days starting on its issuance date, 2.0% per annum, (ii) for the next 90 days, 10.0% per annum and (iii) thereafter, 15.0% per annum. The July Note has a conversion price of US$0.2424 per share. Between August 25 and September 2, 2020, the Affiliated Holder exercised its right to convert US$1,780,960 in principal amount of the July Note, resulting in the issuance of 7,347,195 ordinary shares. On September 3, 2020, we exercised our right to require conversion of the principal amount of the July Note in excess of $2,100,000 and all accrued interest on the July Note. To the extent the Affiliated Holder would have beneficially owned more than 9.9% of our outstanding ordinary shares after such required conversion, we issued to the Affiliated Holder “pre-funded” warrants (the “July Pre-Funded Warrants”) in lieu of such shares. As a result, we issued 3,316,521 ordinary shares and a July Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase 15,492,344 ordinary shares to the Affiliated Holder on September 3, 2020. As of October 15, 2020, the Affiliated Holder had exercised the July Pre-Funded Warrant in full. As of such date, the outstanding balance of the July Note was approximately US$2,105,000 (NZ$3,189,000). | |
| ● | Through October 15, 2020, pursuant to the Sales Agreement with Maxim, we have sold an aggregate of 133,087,150 ordinary shares for gross proceeds of US$17,568,805 (NZ$26,619,402) and net proceeds of US$17,041,741 (NZ$25,820,819), after payment to Maxim of an aggregate of US$527,064 (NZ$798,582) in commissions. |
| (2) | In this prospectus certain New Zealand dollar amounts have been translated into United States dollars at the rate as at January 31, 2020 of NZ$1 = US$0.66. 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, 2020, 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 October 15, 2020, 234,001,906 ordinary shares are issued and outstanding, which does not include:
| ● | approximately 8,683,000 ordinary shares estimated to be issuable upon conversion of the July Note (assuming that the balance of the note and all accrued interest thereon as of October 15, 2020 was converted in full at the current conversion price) and 11,884,783 ordinary shares underlying the July Purchase Warrant. However, the actual number of shares issuable upon exercise of the July Purchase Warrant may be substantially more than the foregoing amount, depending, among other things, on whether the July Purchase Warrant is exercised through a Black-Scholes cashless exercise. In such event, the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the July Purchase Warrant 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; | |
| ● | approximately 1,622,000 ordinary shares estimated to be issuable upon the conversion of the Prior Notes issued in February and April 2020 (assuming that the balance of each such note as of October 15, 2020 was converted in full at the fixed conversion price provided in each such note). However, the actual number of shares issuable upon conversion of such notes may be substantially more than the foregoing amount, because the Prior Note issued in February 2020 may be converted at a floating conversion price based on the current market price of our ordinary shares, provided we approve such conversion. Subject to our approval, the holder of such note may convert the outstanding balance of such note into the ordinary shares at a floating conversion price per share that is equal to (i) a percentage of not less than 75%, multiplied by (ii) the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the ordinary shares in the preceding 20 trading days, but in any event not less than a specified floor price. Based on the outstanding balance of approximately US$4,255,000 as of October 15, 2020, and an assumed floating conversion price of US$0.15 (which is the floor price), the Prior Note issued in February 2020 would be convertible into approximately 28,370,000 ordinary shares. 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 under the Prior Note issued in February 2020; | |
| ● | approximately 34,451,400 ordinary shares estimated to be issuable upon the conversion of the Bendon Conversion Shares (based on the conversion price of $0.11 per share that would apply if a conversion notice was delivered on October 15, 2020). The actual number of shares issued upon such conversion may be substantially more or less than this estimate, depending, among other things, the future market price of our ordinary shares. 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 under the Bendon Conversion Shares; and | |
| ● | 592,900 ordinary shares underlying our outstanding warrants (other than the July Purchase Warrant). |
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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.
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 October 15, 2020, 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.
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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 capitalisation 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; | |
| ● | 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.
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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.
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.
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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).
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.
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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 October 16, 2020 was US$0.10 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
Subject to any covenants in our senior credit facility with BNZ, the Prior Notes and the July Note described above, 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.
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.
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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 shelf 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 shelf securities covered by this prospectus does not mean that the securities will be offered or sold.
Shelf 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. |
Shelf 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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Shelf 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.
Shelf 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.
Shelf 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 shelf 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 shelf 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 shelf 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.
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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, shelf 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 except the SEC registration fee.
| Itemized expense | Amount | |||
| SEC registration fee | $ | 21,820 | ||
| Legal fees and expenses | $ | 15,000 | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses | $ | 16,000 | ||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees | $ | 5,000 | ||
| Miscellaneous | $ | 5,000 | ||
| Total | $ | 62,820 | ||
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, 2020 and 2019 and for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2020, incorporated by reference in this registration statement, have been so included in reliance on the report (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to our ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 2 to the financial statements) 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 ordinary shares 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 8, 2020; | |
| ● | our reports on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on February 6, 2020, February 13, 2020, March 11, 2020, March 12, 2020, April 16, 2020, April 30, 2020, May 15, 2020, June 10, 2020, July 8, 2020, July 27, 2020, July 31, 2020, August 19, 2020, August 20, 2020, August 21, 2020, August 31, 2020, September 25, 2020, October 5, 2020 (two reports) and October 6, 2020; 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, c/o Bendon Limited, 8 Airpark Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland 2022, New Zealand. Such documents may also be accessed free of charge on our website at www.nakedbrands.com.
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell the securities until the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, of which this prospectus is a part, is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED OCTOBER 19, 2020
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED
Up to US$50,000,000 of ordinary shares
We have entered into an equity distribution agreement (as amended, the “Sales Agreement”) with Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”) relating to the sale of our ordinary shares, without par value (“Ordinary Shares”). In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, under this prospectus supplement we may offer and sell, from time to time, Ordinary Shares having an aggregate offering price of up to US$50,000,000, through Maxim, acting as our exclusive sales agent.
Sales of Ordinary Shares, if any, under this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus will be made by any method permitted that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“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. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The compensation to Maxim for the sales of Ordinary Shares sold under the Sales Agreement will be 3% of the gross proceeds that we receive from the sales. We also have agreed to reimburse Maxim up to US$30,000 for its costs and expenses relating to the Sales Agreement, including legal expenses. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-17 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to Maxim. In connection with the sale of the Ordinary Shares on our behalf, Maxim will be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Maxim will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Maxim with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Our Ordinary Shares trade on the Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “NAKD.” The last sale price of our Ordinary Shares on October 16, 2020 was US$0.10 per share. As of October 19, 2020, the aggregate market value of our outstanding ordinary shares held by non-affiliates was $80,256,632 based on 234,001,906 outstanding ordinary shares, of which 233,984,351 shares are held by non-affiliates, and a per share price of US$0.3430, based upon the closing sale price of our common stock on August 20, 2020.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the sections entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S- 9 of this prospectus supplement, on page 8 of the accompanying base prospectus and in the reports incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Maxim Group LLC
Prospectus Supplement dated _______, 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the base prospectus, and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the base 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 Ordinary Shares in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale thereof is not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus supplement and the base prospectus and incorporated by reference herein and therein is accurate only as of the respective date of such information, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement or of any sale or offer to sell hereunder.
To the extent this prospectus supplement 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 supplement 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 supplement contains references to a number of trademarks which are registered or for which we have pending applications or common law rights. Our major trademarks include, among others, Bendon, Bendon Man, Davenport, Fayreform, Lovable, Pleasure State, VaVoom, Evollove, Hickory and Frederick’s of Hollywood and other related trademarks. 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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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus are part of a registration statement on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-_________) that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this “shelf” registration process, we may, from time to time, sell or issue any of the combination of securities described in the accompanying base prospectus in one or more offerings with a maximum aggregate offering price of up to US$200,000,000. The accompanying base prospectus provides you with a general description of us and the securities we may offer, some of which do not apply to this offering. Each time we sell securities, we provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of that offering. A prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in the accompanying base prospectus.
This prospectus supplement relates to the offering of our Ordinary Shares. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, and the documents we incorporate by reference herein and therein include important information about us and our Ordinary Shares and other information you should know before investing. You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, together with the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We have not, and Maxim has not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and Maxim is not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, including the information included and referred to under “Risk Factors” below, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying base prospectus, and the financial statements and the other information incorporated by reference in the accompanying base prospectus, before making an investment decision.
Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus supplement, “we,” “us,” “our,” or “our company,” refers to Naked Brand Group Limited, our subsidiaries, and our predecessor operations, “Bendon” refers to Bendon Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ours, and “FOH” refers to FOH Online Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of ours.
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NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements contained in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein 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 supplement include, among other things, statements relating to:
| ● | expectations regarding industry trends and the size and growth rates of addressable markets; | |
| ● | our business plan and our growth strategies, including plans for 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 ability to raise any necessary capital; | |
| ● | our ability to maintain the strength of our brand or to expand our brand to new products and geographies; | |
| ● | 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 compete in our markets effectively; | |
| ● | our ability to manage our growth effectively; | |
| ● | poor performance during our peak season affecting our operating results for the full year; | |
| ● | our indebtedness adversely affecting our financial condition; | |
| ● | our ability to maintain relationships with our select number of suppliers; | |
| ● | our ability to manage our product distribution through our retail partners and international distributors; | |
| ● | the success of our marketing programs; | |
| ● | business interruptions because of a disruption at our headquarters; | |
| ● | fluctuations in raw materials costs or currency exchange rates; | |
| ● | the success of our business restructuring; and | |
| ● | 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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This summary contains basic information about us and our business but does not contain all of the information that is important to your investment decision. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully read this summary together with the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2020 (the “Annual Report”). Investors should carefully consider the information set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, including those described in documents incorporated by reference herein.
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 supplement is presented on post-reverse split basis.
Overview
We operate in the highly competitive specialty retail business. We are a designer, distributor, wholesaler, and retailer of women’s and men’s intimate apparel, as well as women’s swimwear. Our merchandise is sold through company-owned retail stores in Australia and New Zealand; through online channels in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.; and through wholesale partners in Australia and New Zealand and, on a more limited basis, through wholesale partners and distributors in the United Kingdom and the European Union (collectively, the “E.U.”).
We previously sold our merchandise through wholesale partners in the U.S., as well. However, in order to improve our profitability, we have exited the U.S. wholesale market, although we continue to sell in the U.S. through online channels. We also substantially reduced the size of our operations in the E.U. wholesale market.
Our Brands
Bendon
Our brands include our flagship Bendon brand, as well as our Bendon Man, Davenport, Fayreform, Lovable, Pleasure State, VaVoom, Evollove, and Hickory brands. We sell products under these brands at 60 Bendon stores in Australia and New Zealand and online at www.bendonlingerie.com. Additionally, we sell products under these brands in approximately 325 wholesale stores in Australia, New Zealand and the E.U., and through distributors in the E.U.
Frederick’s of Hollywood
Since 1946, Frederick’s of Hollywood has set the standard for innovative apparel, introducing the push-up bra and the padded bra 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 online license for the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, 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.
Former Brands
We previously sold products under the Stella McCartney, Heidi Klum and Naked brands. Our license to the Stella McCartney brand terminated on June 30, 2018. On January 31, 2020, we entered into a termination agreement with Heidi Klum and Heidi Klum Company, LLC, which provides for the termination of the license agreement between the parties. On January 28, 2020, we sold all of our right, title and interest in the Naked brands to Gogogo SRL. We may continue selling existing Heidi Klum branded products, as well as Heidi Klum branded products manufactured on or prior to June 30, 2020 under existing contracts. The right to continue selling such products will continue until six months after the date of the termination agreement in the Northern Hemisphere and until 12 months after the date of the termination agreement in the Southern Hemisphere. We also may continue selling any inventory bearing the Naked brand that was in existence as of the closing.
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Our Strengths
We believe the following competitive strengths contribute to our leading market position and differentiate us from our competition:
Distinct, Well-Recognized Brands
Our iconic brands, including Bendon, Pleasure State, Fayreform and Frederick’s of Hollywood, have come to represent a unique lifestyle across its targeted customers. Our brands allow us to target markets across the economic spectrum, across demographics and across the world. We believe our flagship brands and prominent, highly recognized creative directors provide us with a competitive advantage.
In-Store Experience and Store Operations
We view our customers’ in-store experience as an important vehicle for communicating the image of each brand. We utilize visual presentation of merchandise, in-store marketing and our sales associates to reinforce the image represented by the brands. Our in-store marketing is designed to convey the principal elements and personality of each brand. The store design, furniture, fixtures and music are all carefully planned and coordinated to create a unique shopping experience. Every brand displays merchandise uniformly to ensure a consistent store experience, regardless of location. Store managers receive detailed plans designating fixture and merchandise placement to ensure coordinated execution of the company-wide merchandising strategy. Our sales associates and managers are a central element in creating the atmosphere of the stores by providing a high level of customer service.
Product Development, Sourcing and Logistics
We believe a large part of our success comes from frequent and innovative product launches, as well as launches of new collections from our existing brands. Our merchant, design and sourcing teams have a long history of bringing innovative products to our customers. Our key vendor partners are industry leaders in both innovation and social responsibility. We work closely together to form a world class supply chain that is dynamic and efficient.
Highly Experienced Leadership Team
Our management team is led by Justin Davis-Rice, Executive Chairman, who joined Bendon in 2011 and is responsible for leading our revenue growth. Prior to joining Bendon, Mr. Davis-Rice co-founded Pleasure State. Anna Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, brings to us a track record of over 25 years’ experience driving growth across a number of industries, including consumer electronics, outdoor adventure and intimate apparel. The rest of our senior management team has a wealth of retail and business experience at The Warehouse Group, Cotton On Group and Hewlett Packard. We have developed a strong and collaborative culture aligned around our goals to create the most beautiful, innovative lingerie that is designed to enhance comfort and fit for women all over the world.
Recent Developments
COVID-19
As of the time of this prospectus supplement, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been broad reaching, including impacts to our retail and wholesale businesses. We temporarily closed our bricks and mortar stores for eight weeks across March to May 2020. In addition, due to a state of emergency being declared, the Australian stores in the state of Victoria have been closed temporarily from August 3, 2020 and the Auckland stores in New Zealand are trading again after being closed for two weeks. However, we have been able to continue to sell merchandise through our two online stores and fulfil online orders from the New Zealand and U.S. warehouses.
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To mitigate the significant impact on cashflow we worked with suppliers to get support with delayed payments and reached agreements with certain key suppliers to push back payments. In addition, we continue to negotiate support from landlords to provide rent abatements through the period of closure and until revenue levels return to previous levels. Employees agreed to work reduced hours and we have applied for government wage subsidies from the New Zealand and Australian governments. At the date of this prospectus supplement, we have received NZ$2.0 million in subsidies from the New Zealand government and AU$0.7 million in subsidies from the Australian government. We have also been in discussion with the Bank of New Zealand (“BNZ”) to defer loan repayments (see “Senior Secured Credit Facility” below). We are investigating other government funding packages for which we may be eligible. The impact of COVID-19 in Asia delayed stock flow due to temporary factory closures. We are working with suppliers who are now back operating to prioritize and reschedule orders and inventory flow has resumed.
The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, and, as such, it is uncertain as to the full magnitude that the pandemic will have on our financial condition, liquidity, and future results of operations. Management and the directors are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and forward planning to minimize the total impact to the group.
For more information, see Item 5 of our Annual Report.
ATM
We are party to an equity distribution agreement (the “Prior Sales Agreement”) with Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”), dated as of August 20, 2020 and amended as of September 25, 2020, pursuant to which we may sell, from time to time, through Maxim, ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to US$18,500,000. Sales of the Shares, 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. Pursuant to the Prior Sales Agreement, through October 15, 2020, we have sold an aggregate of 133,087,150 ordinary shares for gross proceeds of US$17,568,805 (NZ$26,619,402) and net proceeds of US$17,041,741 (NZ$25,820,819), after payment to Maxim of an aggregate of US$527,064 (NZ$798,582) in commissions.
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we intend to terminate the Prior Sales Agreement.
Senior Secured Credit Facility
Effective March 12, 2020, we entered into a Deed of Amendment and Restatement (the “Restated Facility Agreement”) that amended and restated that certain 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 BNZ, as lender. Under the Restated Facility Agreement, BNZ will continue to make available (i) a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”), for which the facility limit, as amended, currently is NZ$16.5 million, and (ii) an instrument facility (the “Instrument Facility”), for which the facility limit is NZ$1.345 million. The Revolving Facility has an outstanding principal balance of NZ$16.5 million as of the date of this prospectus. We will reduce our indebtedness under the Restated Facility Agreement by an aggregate of NZ$7 million in periodic installments through November 30, 2021, which will also reduce the facility limit under the Revolving Facility. The facilities terminate on March 12, 2022. As at January 31, 2020, we were compliant under the facility covenants then in effect. However, we have not been compliant with the financial covenants under the Restated Facility Agreement, due to the impact of COVID-19, and we are currently in negotiations with BNZ to revise these temporarily. For more information, see Item 5.B of our Annual Report.
Convertible Promissory Notes
Notes Issued in October, November, and December 2019 and January, February, and April 2020
In each of October, November and December 2019 and January, February, and April 2020, we completed a private placement of a convertible promissory note (each, a “Prior Note”) and a warrant to purchase ordinary shares to either St. George Investments LLC or Iliad Research and Trading L.P., which are affiliates of one another (together, the “Affiliated Holders”). Each private placement of a Prior Note was made pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement with the applicable Affiliated Holder. The aggregate purchase price of the Prior Notes was US$15,500,000 (NZ$23,485,000). Each of the Prior Notes was issued with an original issue discount of 5%, and certain expenses of the Affiliated Holder were added to the balance of each Prior Note. In addition, the applicable Affiliated Holder had the right to exchange each warrant for a 5% increase in the outstanding balance of the related Prior Note, a right the Affiliated Holder exercised in each case. Because we did not timely complete an equity financing as required by each of the Prior Notes and did not timely file a registration statement as required by the Prior Notes issued in February and April 2020, the outstanding balance of each applicable Prior Note was increased by 10% for each such occurrence.
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Each of the Prior Notes issued in October, November and December 2019 and January 2020 had an initial fixed conversion price of US$5.00 per share (in the case of the October 2019 note) or US$4.00 per share (in the case of the other notes). Pursuant to amendments in January 2020, on three occasions, we temporarily reduced the conversion price of the Prior Note issued in December 2019. Furthermore, pursuant to amendments in April and June 2020, we modified the Prior Notes issued in October, November and December 2019 and January 2020 so that they could be converted at a floating conversion price, provided we approved each such conversion. Subject to our approval, the holders of such Prior Notes could convert the outstanding balance of the notes into ordinary shares at a conversion price per share that was equal to (i) a percentage of not less than 75%, multiplied by (ii) the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the ordinary shares in the preceding 20 trading days, but in any event not less than a specified floor price. As of October 15, 2020, the entire outstanding balance of the Prior Notes issued in October, November and December 2019 and January 2020, or approximately US$15,000,000 (NZ$22,700,000), had been converted into 35,746,486 ordinary shares.
In August 2020, we entered into a similar amendment with respect the Prior Note issued in February 2020, so that it also may be converted at a floating conversion price, provided we approve each such conversion, on the same terms as described above. The Prior Note issued in April 2020 remains convertible only at its initial fixed conversion price. As of October 15, 2020, US$350,000 (NZ$530,000) of the Prior Note issued in February 2020 had been converted into 1,875,670 ordinary shares.
Each of the remaining Prior Notes issued in February and April 2020 bears interest at 20% per annum, compounded daily, and matures two years after its issuance. As of October 15, 2020, the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the remaining Prior Notes was approximately US$6,489,000 (NZ$9,831,000).
Note and Purchase Warrant Issued in July 2020
In July 2020, we completed a private placement of a convertible promissory note (the “July Note”) and a warrant to purchase ordinary shares (the “July Purchase Warrant”) to one of the Affiliated Holders, Iliad Research Trading L.P., pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement, for an aggregate purchase price of US$8,000,000 (NZ$12,100,000). The July Note was issued with an original issue discount of 5%, and certain expenses of the Affiliated Holder were added to the balance of the July Note, for an original principal balance of US$8,420,000. We also granted a financing rebate to the Affiliated Holder, resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately US$7,200,000 (NZ$10,900,000) from the sale of the July Note. The July Note accrues interest at the following rate: (i) for a period of 90 days starting on its issuance date, 2.0% per annum, (ii) for the next 90 days, 10.0% per annum and (iii) thereafter, 15.0% per annum. The July Note matures on the second anniversary of its issuance.
The July Note is convertible at the election of the Affiliated Holder into ordinary shares at a conversion price equal to the lower of US$0.2424 (80% of the closing bid price of the ordinary shares on the trading day immediately prior to August 24, 2020, the date the resale registration statement for the ordinary shares underlying the July Note was declared effective). In addition, during the ten-day period following August 24, 2020, we had the right to require the Affiliated Holder to convert the entire principal amount of the July Note in excess of US$2,100,000, and all accrued interest on the July Note, into ordinary shares. Between August 25 and September 2, 2020, the Affiliated Holder exercised its right to convert US$1,780,960 in principal amount of the July Note, resulting in the issuance of 7,347,195 ordinary shares. On September 3, 2020, we exercised our right in full to require conversion of the July Note. To the extent the Affiliated Holder would have beneficially owned more than 9.9% of our outstanding ordinary shares after such required conversion, we issued to the Affiliated Holder “pre-funded” warrants (the “July Pre-Funded Warrants”) in lieu of such shares. As a result, we issued 3,316,521 ordinary shares and a July Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase 15,492,344 ordinary shares to the Affiliated Holder on September 3, 2020. As of October 15, 2020, the Affiliated Holder had exercised the July Pre-Funded Warrant in full. As of such date, the outstanding balance of the July Note was approximately US$2,105,000 (NZ$3,189,000).
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The July Purchase Warrant entitles the Affiliated Holder to purchase ordinary shares at an exercise price of US$0.6707 per share. In addition, if the exercise price of the July Purchase Warrants is higher than the last closing bid price of the ordinary shares, the July Purchase Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis for a number of shares equal to the Black-Scholes value per share underlying the July Purchase Warrant, multiplied by the number of shares as to which the July Purchase Warrant is being exercised, divided by the closing bid price as of two business days prior to the exercise date, but in any event not less than the floor price specified in the July Purchase Warrant. For this purpose, the Black-Scholes value per share underlying the July Purchase Warrant is a fixed value as set forth in the July Purchase Warrant. The July Purchase Warrant expires on July 24, 2025. As of October 15, 2020, the July Purchase Warrant had been exercised as to 7,251,581 ordinary shares on a cashless exercise basis using the Black-Scholes value, resulting in the issuance of 31,253,032 ordinary shares, and 11,884,783 ordinary shares remain subject to the July Purchase Warrant.
Bendon Conversion Shares
On October 5, 2020, we and one of our operating subsidiaries, Bendon, entered into a settlement agreement with each of (i) Timothy D. Connell and (ii) William Gibson and Ivory Castle Limited (collectively, the “Lenders”). The Lenders had alleged that specific repayment terms of loans made by them were not met as promised and sought repayment of the loans. Pursuant to the settlement agreements, the Lenders agreed to settle the dispute in consideration for Bendon’s issuance to them of redeemable conversion shares of Bendon (the “Bendon Conversion Shares”) with an aggregate value of US$3,789,654. The Bendon Conversion Shares constitute a separate share class in Bendon, confer no voting rights on the Lenders, have no rights to dividends or distributions by Bendon, have the right to receive any dividends declared and paid by our company on an as-converted basis, are redeemable by Bendon at any time at a price of NZ$1,000 (US$662.90) per share and are redeemable by Bendon at a price of NZ$0.01 per share if a Lender’s Settlement Agreement is terminated. The Bendon Conversion Shares are convertible into our ordinary shares at a conversion price equal to the closing market price of our ordinary shares on the trading day immediately preceding the date that the Lenders or Bendon, as applicable, delivers a notice of conversion, subject to a floor of US$0.05 per share (which minimum amount is subject to adjustment for any share dividend, subdivision, or combination of share capital or any similar transaction, including any reverse split of Naked’s shares). The Bendon Conversion shares are not convertible by a Lender or Bendon to the extent that, after giving effect to the issuance of our ordinary shares issuable upon such conversion, the Lender or any of its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% of the total number of our outstanding ordinary shares. Assuming that a conversion notice was delivered on October 15, 2020, the conversion price would have been US$0.11 per share and Bendon Conversion Shares would have been convertible into 34,451,400 ordinary shares, subject to the limitation on conversion described above. For more information, see our Report of Foreign Issuer on Form 6-K filed October 5, 2020.
Nasdaq Noncompliance
On March 11, 2020, we received a notice from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department stating that, for the previous 30 consecutive business days, the closing bid price for the ordinary shares had been below the minimum of US$1.00 per share required for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). The notification letter stated that we would be afforded 180 calendar days to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. In addition, Nasdaq has tolled the compliance period from April 16, 2020 through June 30, 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19. Accordingly, we have until November 23, 2020 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 US$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 initial 180-day period, we may be eligible for an additional 180 calendar days.
The Nasdaq notification has no effect at this time on the listing of the ordinary shares, and the ordinary shares continue to trade under the symbol “NAKD.”
Corporate Information
Our principal office is located at 8 Airpark Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland 2022, New, Zealand, and our telephone number is +64 9 275 0000. Our registered office is located at 1/23 Court Road, Double Bay, New South Wales 2028, Australia. 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 supplement.
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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 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, 2020, as amended, which is incorporated herein by reference. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” on page S-19.
Risks Affecting Our Company
In evaluating an investment in our securities, you should carefully read this prospectus supplement and especially consider the factors incorporated by reference in the sections titled “Risk Factors” commencing on page S-9 of this prospectus supplement and in our base prospectus and the Annual Report incorporated by reference herein.
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| Issuer | Naked Brand Group Ltd. |
| Securities Offered | Ordinary Shares having aggregate gross sales proceeds of up to US$50,000,000. |
| Ordinary Shares to Be Outstanding Immediately Following This Offering | Up to 688,547,361 Ordinary Shares, assuming sales of 454,545,455 Ordinary Shares in this offering at a price of US$0.11 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq as of October 15, 2020. The actual number of Ordinary Shares will vary depending on the sales price under this offering.(1) |
| Manner of Offering | We have entered into a Sales Agreement with Maxim relating to the sale of our Ordinary Shares. In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, under this prospectus supplement we may offer and sell, from time to time, Ordinary Shares having an aggregate offering price of up to US$50,000,000 through Maxim acting as our exclusive sales agent. Sales of Ordinary Shares, if any, under this prospectus supplement will be made by any method permitted that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act. See the section titled “Plan of Distribution” on page S-17 of this prospectus supplement. |
| Use of Proceeds | We may issue and sell our Ordinary Shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual public offering amount, commissions to Maxim and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that we will sell any Ordinary Shares under the Sales Agreement. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby for working capital and other general corporate purposes. See the section titled “Use of Proceeds” on page S-13. |
| Risk Factors | See the sections titled “Risk Factors” commencing on page S-9 of this prospectus supplement and in our base prospectus and the Annual Report incorporated by reference herein for a discussion of factors you should consider carefully before deciding to invest in our Ordinary Shares. |
| Listing | Our Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “NAKD.” |
| Transfer Agent | Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Co. is the registrar and transfer agent of our Ordinary Shares. |
| (1) | The number of Ordinary Shares to be issued and outstanding after this offering is based on 234,001,906 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of October 15, 2020. The number of Ordinary Shares to be issued and outstanding after this offering excludes: |
| ● | approximately 8,683,000 ordinary shares estimated to be issuable upon conversion of the July Note (assuming that the balance of the note and all accrued interest thereon as of October 15, 2020 was converted in full at the current conversion price) and 11,884,783 ordinary shares underlying the July Purchase Warrant. However, the actual number of shares issuable upon exercise of the July Purchase Warrant may be substantially more than the foregoing amount, depending, among other things, on whether the July Purchase Warrant is exercised through a Black-Scholes cashless exercise. In such event, the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the July Purchase Warrant 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; |
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| ● | approximately 1,622,000 ordinary shares estimated to be issuable upon the conversion of the Prior Notes issued in February and April 2020 (assuming that the balance of each such note as of October 15, 2020 was converted in full at the fixed conversion price provided in each such note). However, the actual number of shares issuable upon conversion of such notes may be substantially more than the foregoing amount, because the Prior Note issued in February 2020 may be converted at a floating conversion price based on the current market price of our ordinary shares, provided we approve such conversion. Subject to our approval, the holder of such note may convert the outstanding balance of such note into the ordinary shares at a floating conversion price per share that is equal to (i) a percentage of not less than 75%, multiplied by (ii) the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the ordinary shares in the preceding 20 trading days, but in any event not less than a specified floor price. Based on the outstanding balance of approximately US$4,255,000 as of October 15, 2020, and an assumed floating conversion price of US$0.15 (which is the floor price), the Prior Note issued in February 2020 would be convertible into approximately 28,370,000 ordinary shares. 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 under the Prior Note issued in February 2020; and | |
| ● | approximately 34,451,400 ordinary shares estimated to be issuable upon the conversion of the Bendon Conversion Shares (based on the conversion price of $0.11 per share that would apply if a conversion notice was delivered on October 15, 2020). The actual number of shares issued upon such conversion may be substantially more or less than this estimate, depending, among other things, the future market price of our ordinary shares. 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 under the Bendon Conversion Shares; and | |
| ● | 592,900 Ordinary Shares underlying our other outstanding warrants. |
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before investing in our Ordinary Shares, you should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below and those 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. 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.
Risks Relating to Our Business
Our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be impacted by the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Our business has been and may continue to be adversely affected by a widespread outbreak of contagious disease, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in business closures and a limit on consumer and employee travel across the globe. Any outbreak of contagious diseases, or other adverse public health developments, could have a material and adverse effect on our business operations. These could include disruptions or restrictions on our ability to travel, reduced traffic in our stores and the stores of our wholesale customers, temporary closures of our stores and/or office buildings or the facilities of our wholesale customers or suppliers. We may also see disruptions or delays in shipments and negative impacts to pricing of certain components of our products. Further, any disruption of our customers or suppliers would likely impact our sales and operating results. In addition, a significant outbreak of contagious diseases in the human population could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an economic downturn that could affect demand for our products and likely impact our operating results. The resulting economic downturn can also negatively impact our share price.
As of the time of this filing, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been broad reaching, including impacts to our retail and wholesale businesses. The pandemic has had an impact on our business globally, with significant temporary store closures. The COVID-19 pandemic is also impacting the Asia region where we source most of our inventory. Temporary factory closures and the pace of workers returning to work has impacted our suppliers’ ability to source certain raw materials and to produce and fulfill finished goods orders in a timely manner. As of the date of this filing, we have also experienced impacts on deliveries, driven primarily by factory labor shortages and port congestion. However, the ability of our distribution and logistics providers to operate may be further impacted depending on the continued severity and duration of the pandemic and may have a significant impact on the cost and timing of receipts for future seasons. The occurrence of any of these events could further negatively impact our future consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. There could be a prolonged impact on our business due to slow economic recovery or changes in consumer behavior. If we experience a sustained decrease in consumer demand related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it may exacerbate our need for additional financing. There is no guarantee that we will be able to obtain such additional financing, on acceptable terms or at all. The results for the full fiscal 2021 could also be impacted in ways we are not able to predict today, including, but not limited to, non-cash write-downs and asset impairment charges (including impairments on property and equipment, operating lease right-of use assets and intangible assets); unrealized gains or losses related to investments; foreign currency fluctuations; and collections of accounts receivables.
We are continuing to monitor the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of the date of this prospectus, the Australian stores in the state of Victoria remain temporarily closed since August 3, 2020 and the Auckland stores in New Zealand are trading again following a two week closure due to a state of emergency being declared.
The two online stores are trading, and we are able to fulfil orders from the New Zealand and U.S. warehouses. In order to mitigate the significant impact on cash inflow we are working with our suppliers and lenders to extend payment terms. We are in discussions with BNZ to extend loan repayment dates and with our landlords to provide abatements through the period of closure. We have reduced staff hours and applied for government subsidies for the New Zealand and Australian employees. At the date of this prospectus, we had received NZ$2.0m in subsidies from the New Zealand government and AU$0.7m from the Australian government.
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We are and may become the subject of various claims, threats of litigation, litigation or investigations which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or price of our ordinary shares.
We are and may become subject to various claims, threats of litigation (including, from current and former shareholders of our company), litigation or investigations, including commercial disputes and employee claims, and from time to time may be involved in governmental or regulatory investigations or similar matters. Any claims asserted against us or our management, regardless of merit or eventual outcome, could harm our reputation and have an adverse impact on our relationship with our clients, distribution partners and other third parties and could lead to additional related claims. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that we will be successful in defending ourselves in pending or future litigation or similar matters under various laws. Any judgments or settlements in any pending litigation or future claims, litigation or investigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and price of our Ordinary Shares.
Risks Related to this Offering
It is not possible to predict the actual number of Ordinary Shares we will sell under the Sales Agreement, or the gross proceeds resulting from those sales.
Subject to certain limitations in the Sales Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to Maxim at any time throughout the term of the Sales Agreement. The number of Ordinary Shares that are sold through Maxim will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of the Ordinary Shares during the sales period, the limits we set with Maxim in any applicable placement notice, and the demand for our Ordinary Shares during the sales period. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate during the sales period, it is not possible to predict the number of shares that will be sold or the gross proceeds we will raise in connection with those sales.
The Ordinary Shares offered hereby will be sold in “at the market offerings” and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase Ordinary Shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold in this offering. In addition, there is no minimum or maximum sales price of our Ordinary Shares offered hereby. Investors may experience a decline in the value of shares that they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
You may experience immediate dilution in the net tangible book value per Ordinary Share that you purchase.
The price per Ordinary Share offered hereunder may be higher than the net tangible book value per Ordinary Share prior to your purchase. In such event, you will suffer immediate dilution in an amount representing the difference between our net tangible book value per Ordinary Share after giving effect to your purchase and the purchase price per Ordinary Share that you pay in the offering.
We will have broad discretion in using the proceeds of this offering, and we may not effectively spend the proceeds.
We will use the net proceeds of this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. We have not allocated any specific portion of the net proceeds to any particular purpose, and our management will have the discretion to allocate the proceeds as it determines. We will have significant flexibility and broad discretion in applying the net proceeds of this offering, and we may not apply these proceeds effectively. Our management might not be able to yield a significant return, if any, on any investment of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity to influence our decisions on how to use our net proceeds from this offering.
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Risks Related to our Ordinary Shares
We may issue additional securities in the future, which may result in dilution to our shareholders.
We are not restricted from issuing additional Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares. Because we anticipate we will need to raise additional capital to operate and/or expand our business, we expect to conduct equity offerings in future. In addition to issuances under the Sales Agreement, we also may issue additional Ordinary Shares upon conversion of our outstanding convertible promissory notes, upon conversion of the Bendon Conversion Shares and upon exercise of our outstanding warrants.
As of October 15, 2020, there were approximately 8,683,000 Ordinary Shares estimated to be issuable upon conversion of the July Note (assuming that the balance of the note and all accrued interest thereon as of such date was converted in full at the current conversion price) and 11,884,783 Ordinary Shares underlying the July Purchase Warrant. However, the actual number of shares issuable upon exercise of the July Purchase Warrant may be substantially more than the foregoing amount, depending, among other things, on whether the July Purchase Warrant is exercised through a Black-Scholes cashless exercise. In such event, the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the July Purchase Warrant would depend on the market price of the Ordinary Shares at a future date. 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.
In addition, as of October 15, 2020, there were approximately 1,620,000 Ordinary Shares estimated to be issuable upon the conversion of the Prior Notes issued in February and April 2020 (assuming that the balance of each such note as of such date was converted in full at the fixed conversion price provided in each such note). However, the actual number of shares issuable upon conversion of the Prior Notes issued in February and April 2020 may be substantially more than the foregoing amount, because the Prior Note issued in February 2020 may be converted at a floating conversion price based on the current market price of our Ordinary Shares, provided we approve such conversion. Subject to our approval, the holder of such note may convert the outstanding balance of such note into the Ordinary Shares at a floating conversion price per share that is equal to (i) a percentage of not less than 75%, multiplied by (ii) the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares in the preceding 20 trading days, but in any event not less than a specified floor price. Based on the outstanding balance of approximately US$4,249,000 as of October 15, 2020, and an assumed floating conversion price of US$0.15 (which is the floor price), the Prior Note issued in February 2020 would be convertible into approximately 28,323,000 Ordinary Shares. 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 under the Prior Note issued in February 2020.
Additionally, as of October 15, 2020, there were approximately 34,451,400 ordinary shares estimated to be issuable upon the conversion of the Bendon Conversion Shares (based on the conversion price of $0.11 per share that would apply if a conversion notice was delivered on such date). The actual number of shares issued upon such conversion may be substantially more or less than this estimate, depending, among other things, the future market price of our ordinary shares. 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 under the Bendon Conversion Shares.
Furthermore, as of October 15, 2020, there were 592,900 Ordinary Shares underlying our outstanding warrants (other than the July Purchase Warrant).
There is no limit on the number of Ordinary Shares we may issue under our constitution. To the extent our outstanding warrants are exercised, our outstanding convertible promissory notes are converted or we conduct additional equity offerings, additional Ordinary Shares will be issued, which may result in dilution to our shareholders. The Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Prior Notes may be publicly resold pursuant to exemptions from registration. In addition, we have filed a registration statement registering the public resale of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Bendon Conversion Shares. The Ordinary Shares underlying our other securities may be eligible for public resale in the future, either pursuant to registration or an exemption from registration. Sales of substantial numbers of shares in the public market could adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares. In addition, issuances of a substantial number of shares will reduce the equity interest of our existing investors and could cause a change in control of our company.
| S-11 |
Nasdaq may delist our Ordinary Shares from quotation on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to sell and purchase our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
The Ordinary Shares are currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the trading symbol “NAKD.” However, on March 11, 2020, we received a notice from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department stating that, for the previous 30 consecutive business days, 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 to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. In addition, Nasdaq has tolled the compliance period from April 16, 2020 through June 30, 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19. Accordingly, we have until November 23, 2020 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 US$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 initial 180-day period, we may be eligible for an additional 180 calendar days.
There can be no assurance that we will regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement within the allotted period, or that we will be able to maintain compliance with the other continued listing requirements under the Nasdaq Listing Rules.
If the Ordinary Shares are not listed on Nasdaq at any time after this offering, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
| ● | a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; | |
| ● | reduced liquidity; | |
| ● | a determination that the Ordinary Shares are a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our shares to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for the Ordinary Shares; | |
| ● | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and | |
| ● | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
The market for our Ordinary Shares may not provide investors with adequate liquidity.
Liquidity of the market for our Ordinary Shares depends on a number of factors, including our financial condition and operating results, the number of holders of our Ordinary Shares, the market for similar securities and the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the securities. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in the Company will maintain a trading market in our Ordinary Shares, or how liquid that market will be. If an active market is not maintained, investors may have difficulty selling Ordinary Shares that they hold.
We do not intend to pay any dividends on our Ordinary Shares at this time.
We have not paid any cash dividends on our Ordinary Shares to date. The payment of cash dividends on our Ordinary Shares in the future will be dependent upon our revenue and earnings, if any, capital requirements, and general financial condition, as well as the limitations on dividends and distributions that exist under the laws and regulations of Australia, and will be within the discretion of our board of directors. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board of directors does not anticipate declaring any dividends on our Ordinary Shares in the foreseeable future. As a result, any gain you will realize on our Ordinary Shares will result solely from the appreciation of such shares.
| S-12 |
We may issue and sell our Ordinary Shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual public offering amount, commissions to Maxim and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that we will sell any Ordinary Shares, under the Sales Agreement.
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby for working capital and other general corporate purposes. A portion of the net proceeds may be used to make periodic installment payments on our Revolving Facility with BNZ. The Revolving Facility has an outstanding principal balance of NZ$16.5 million as of the date of this prospectus. Drawings in New Zealand dollars bear interest at a floating rate per annum based on the New Zealand bank bill reference rate administered by the New Zealand Financial Markets Association. As of the date of this prospectus, the interest rate on the Revolving Facility is 4.41% per annum.
The expected use of net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions, which could change in the future as our plans and business conditions evolve. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures may vary significantly depending on numerous factors, including but not limited to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business operations and any unforeseen cash needs. As a result, our management retains broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering.
| S-13 |
The following table sets forth our capitalization at January 31, 2020 (i) on an historical basis, (ii) on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to the transactions described in footnote 1 to the table, and (iii) on a pro forma as adjusted basis, after giving further effect to the sale by us of an aggregate of 454,545,455 Ordinary Shares offered hereby at an assumed offering price of US$0.11 per share, which was the closing sale price of our Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq on October 15, 2020, after deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us.
You should read this table together with our financial statements and the related notes thereto, as well as “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the other financial information, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus from our SEC filings, including our Annual Report. The information presented in the capitalization table below is unaudited.
| In Thousands of NZ$ and US$ | As at January 31, 2020 (Historical) | As at January 31, 2020 (Pro Forma)(1) | As at January 31, 2020 (Pro Forma As Adjusted)(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NZ$ | US$ (3) | NZ$ | US$ (3) | NZ$ | US$ (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Borrowings | 38,913 | 25,683 | 27,830 | 18,368 | 27,830 | 18,368 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Share Capital | 170,913 | 112,327 | 231,021 | 152,474 | 306,779 | 202,474 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated Losses | (176,595 | ) | (116,553 | ) | (176,595 | ) | (116,553 | ) | (176,595 | ) | (116,553 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Reserves | 118 | 78 | 118 | 78 | 118 | 78 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Capitalization | (6,284 | ) | (4,147 | ) | 54,544 | 35,999 | 130,302 | 85,999 | ||||||||||||||||
| (1) | The pro forma information reflects the following transactions: |
| ● | On February 12, 2020, we completed a private placement of a Prior Note and a warrant to purchase ordinary shares, for a purchase price of US$3.0m, with a principal balance before discount and expenses of US$3.17m. The holder exercised the right to exchange the warrant for a 5% increase in the balance of the February Prior Note, and as a result the warrant was cancelled, and the balance of the Prior Note was increased by approximately US$0.2m. We also did not timely complete an equity financing and did not timely file a registration statement as required by the Prior Note, and as a result the outstanding balance of the note was subjected to a 10% premium for each such occurrence, or an aggregate of approximately US$0.7m. The Prior Note accrues interest at a rate of 20% per annum, compounded daily. | |
| ● | On April 15, 2020, we completed a private placement of a Prior Note and a warrant to purchase ordinary shares, for a purchase price of US$1.5m, with a principal balance before discount and expenses of US$1.595m. The holder exercised the right to exchange the warrant for a 5% increase in the balance of the April Prior Note, and as a result the warrant was cancelled, and the balance of the Prior Note was increased by approximately US$0.1m. We also did not timely complete an equity financing and did not timely file a registration statement as required by the Prior Note, and as a result the outstanding balance of the note was subjected to a 10% premium for each such occurrence, or an aggregate of approximately US$0.4m. The Prior Note accrues interest at a rate of 20% per annum, compounded daily. | |
| ● | On July 3, 2020, we agreed to exchange one of our outstanding promissory notes, with an outstanding balance of approximately US$1.36m, for 1,666,667 of our ordinary shares. | |
| ● | From February 1, 2020 through October 15, 2020, an aggregate of US$14.5 million (NZ$22.0 million) of the outstanding balance of the Prior Notes issued in October, November and December 2019 and January 2020, representing all of the outstanding balance of such notes, and US$350,000 (NZ$530,000) of the outstanding balance of the Prior Note issued in February 2020 was converted into 37,141,676 ordinary shares. |
| S-14 |
| ● | On July 24, 2020, we completed a private placement of the July Note and the July Purchase Warrant, for a purchase price of US$8.0 million, with an original issue discount of 5%, certain expenses added to the principal balance, and a financing rebate granted to the investor, resulting an initial balance of the July Note of US$8,420,000 (NZ$12,758,000) and net proceeds to us of approximately US$7,200,000 (NZ$10,900,000). The July Note accrues interest at the following rate: (i) for a period of 90 days starting on its issuance date, 2.0% per annum, (ii) for the next 90 days, 10.0% per annum and (iii) thereafter, 15.0% per annum. The July Note has a conversion price of US$0.2424 per share. Between August 25 and September 2, 2020, the Affiliated Holder exercised its right to convert US$1,780,960 in principal amount of the July Note, resulting in the issuance of 7,347,195 ordinary shares. On September 3, 2020, we exercised our right to require conversion of the principal amount of the July Note in excess of $2,100,000 and all accrued interest on the July Note. To the extent the Affiliated Holder would have beneficially owned more than 9.9% of our outstanding ordinary shares after such required conversion, we issued to the Affiliated Holder “pre-funded” warrants (the “July Pre-Funded Warrants”) in lieu of such shares. As a result, we issued 3,316,521 ordinary shares and a July Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase 15,492,344 ordinary shares to the Affiliated Holder on September 3, 2020. As of October 15, 2020, the Affiliated Holder had exercised the July Pre-Funded Warrant in full. As of such date, the outstanding balance of the July Note was approximately US$2,105,000 (NZ$3,189,000). | |
| ● | Through October 15, 2020, pursuant to the Sales Agreement with Maxim, we have sold an aggregate of 133,087,150 ordinary shares for gross proceeds of US$17,568,805 (NZ$26,619,402) and net proceeds of US$17,041,741 (NZ$25,820,819), after payment to Maxim of an aggregate of US$527,064 (NZ$798,582) in commissions. |
| (2) | The pro forma as adjusted information gives further effect to the sale by us of an aggregate of 454,545,455 Ordinary Shares offered hereby at an assumed offering price of US$0.11 per share, which was the closing sale price of our Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq on October 15, 2020, after deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
| (3) | In this prospectus certain New Zealand dollar amounts have been translated into United States dollars at the rate as at January 31, 2020 of NZ$1 = US$0.66. 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 footnote 1 in “The Offering.”
You should read this table in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements as at and for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2020, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
| S-15 |
DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES
For a description of the rights associated with the Ordinary Shares, see “Description of Capital Shares” in the accompanying base prospectus and the description of our Ordinary Shares included as Exhibit 2.2 to our Annual Report with the SEC on May 8, 2020 and incorporated by reference herein.
Assuming that an aggregate of 454,545,455 Ordinary Shares are sold in this offering at an assumed offering price of US$0.11 per share, which was the closing sale price of our Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq on October 15, 2020, there will be 688,547,371 Ordinary Shares outstanding. The number of Ordinary Shares to be issued and outstanding after this offering is based on 234,001,906 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of October 15, 2020. The number of Ordinary Shares outstanding after this offering does not include the Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of our outstanding convertible promissory notes, upon conversion of the Bendon Conversion Shares and upon exercise of our outstanding warrants. For more information, see footnote 1 in “The Offering.”
You should carefully read the discussion of the material Australian and U.S. federal income tax considerations associated with our operations and the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares set forth in Section E, “Taxation,” of Item 10 of our Annual Report, filed with the SEC on May 8, 2020 and incorporated by reference herein.
| S-16 |
Pursuant to the Sales Agreement, entered into by and between the Company and Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”), Maxim has agreed to act as exclusive sales agent in connection with this offering of our Ordinary Shares pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Maxim is not purchasing or selling any of the Ordinary Shares offered by this prospectus supplement, nor is it required to arrange the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of Ordinary Shares, but have agreed to use their reasonable best efforts to arrange for the sale of all of the Ordinary Shares offered hereby.
Upon delivery of a placement notice and subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement, Maxim may sell Ordinary Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at-the-market” equity offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through Nasdaq, the existing trading market for our Ordinary Shares, sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange or otherwise, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, and/or any other method permitted by law, including in privately negotiated transactions.
We will pay Maxim a commission of up to 3% of the gross proceeds from each sale. We also have agreed to reimburse Maxim up to US$30,000 for its costs and expenses relating to the Sales Agreement, including legal expenses. In addition to such fees, in connection with periodic bringdowns of Maxim’s due diligence and certain opinions, letters and certificates delivered under the Sales Agreement, we have agreed to pay Maxim’s legal counsel up to an additional $5,000 per bringdown. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation and reimbursements payable to Maxim under the terms of the Sales Agreement, will be approximately US$36,000.
Settlement for sales of Ordinary Shares will occur on the second business day following the date on which any sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and Maxim in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement. Sales of Ordinary Shares as contemplated in this prospectus supplement and the accompany prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Maxim may agree upon.
We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Maxim and specified persons against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and to contribute to payments that Maxim may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
Maxim may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and any commissions received by them and any profit realized on the resale of the shares sold by them while acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. As an underwriter, Maxim would be required to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares by the agent acting as principal. Under these rules and regulations, Maxim:
| ● | may not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities; and | |
| ● | may not bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities, other than as permitted under the Exchange Act, until it has completed its participation in the distribution. |
The offering of our Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all shares of our Ordinary Shares subject to the Sales Agreement or (ii) termination of the Sales Agreement as permitted therein. Either we or the Sales Agent may terminate the Sales Agreement at any time upon ten (10) days’ prior notice.
| S-17 |
Maxim and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees. To the extent required by Regulation M, Maxim will not engage in any market making activities involving our Ordinary Shares while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus supplement and the accompany prospectus.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by Maxim and Maxim may distribute this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus electronically.
The foregoing does not purport to be a complete statement of the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement. A copy of the Sales Agreement is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part and incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a part.
| S-18 |
The following are the estimated expenses of the issuance and distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement, all of which will be paid by us.
| In US$ | ||||
| Legal Fees and Expenses | $ | 15,000 | ||
| Accountants’ Fees and Expenses | $ | 16,000 | ||
| Miscellaneous Costs | $ | 5,000 | ||
| Total | $ | 36,000 |
Graubard Miller, New York, New York, is acting as counsel in connection with the registration of our securities under the Securities Act. Mills Oakley, Sydney, Australia, will pass upon the validity of the Ordinary Shares offered in this prospectus and on matters of Australia law. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York, is representing the sales agent in this offering.
The financial statements as of January 31, 2020 and 2019 and for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2020, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, have been so included in reliance on the report (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to our ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 2 to the financial statements) 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 Ordinary Shares 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.
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.
| S-19 |
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 8, 2020; | |
| ● | our reports on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on February 6, 2020, February 13, 2020, March 11, 2020, March 12, 2020, April 16, 2020, April 30, 2020, May 15, 2020, June 10, 2020, July 8, 2020, July 27, 2020, July 31, 2020, August 19, 2020, August 20, 2020, August 21, 2020, August 31, 2020, September 25, 2020, October 5, 2020 (two reports) and October 6, 2020; 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 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, c/o Bendon Limited, 8 Airpark Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland 2022, New Zealand. Such documents may also be accessed free of charge on our website at www.nakedbrands.com.
| S-20 |
US$50,000,000
Ordinary Shares
NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED
Prospectus Supplement
Maxim Group LLC
_______, 2020
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;
| II-1 |
(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.
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(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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SIGNATURES
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 19th day of October, 2020.
| NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ Justin Davis-Rice | |
| Justin Davis-Rice | ||
| Executive Chairman | ||
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Justin Davis-Rice 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 (Principal Executive Officer) | October 19, 2020 | ||
| Justin Davis-Rice | ||||
| /s/ Cheryl Durose | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | October 19, 2020 | ||
| Cheryl Durose | ||||
| /s/ Paul Hayes | Director | October 19, 2020 | ||
| Paul Hayes | ||||
| /s/ Andrew Shape | Director | October 19, 2020 | ||
| Andrew Shape | ||||
| /s/ Kelvin Fitzalan | Director | October 19, 2020 | ||
| Kelvin Fitzalan |
Authorized Representative in the United States
| GRAUBARD MILLER | ||
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey M. Gallant | |
| Name: | Jeffrey M. Gallant | |
| Title: | Partner | |
| Date: | October 19, 2019 | |
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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 1.2
Naked Brand Group Limited
Up to $50,000,000 of Ordinary Shares
Equity Distribution Agreement
October 19, 2020
Maxim
Group LLC
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Naked Brand Group Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Australia (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell through Maxim Group LLC (the “Agent”), as sales agent, ordinary shares, with no par value (“Ordinary Shares”), of the Company (the “Shares”) having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 on terms set forth herein. The Shares consist entirely of authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares to be issued and sold by the Company.
The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the Agent (this “Agreement”) with respect to the sale of the Shares.
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
(a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Agent as follows:
(i) A registration statement on Form F-3 has been filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act of 1933”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Rules and Regulations” and collectively with the Securities Act of 1933, the “Securities Act”). No stop order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus (as defined below), the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below), the Prospectus (as defined below) or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, are contemplated by the Commission. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Registration Statement,” as used herein, means the registration statement on Form F-3 filed by the Company on October 19, 2020, as the same may be amended from time to time and at the time of such registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act, as such section applies to the Agent, including (1) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, (2) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus relating to the Shares filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Securities Act, to be part of the registration statement at such time, and (3) any registration statement filed to register the offer and sale of Shares pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “462(b) Registration Statement”). Except where the context otherwise requires, “Base Prospectus,” as used herein, means the base prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement, together with any amendments or supplements thereto as of the date of this Agreement. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus Supplement,” as used herein, means the most recent prospectus relating to the Shares, filed or to be filed by the Company with the Commission as part of the Base Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus,” as used herein, means the Prospectus Supplement together with the Base Prospectus attached to or used with the Prospectus Supplement, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time. “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus,” as used herein, means the documents, if any, listed on Schedule A attached hereto and, after the date hereof, any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act, that is expressly agreed to by the Company and the Agent in writing to be a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, therein pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 (the “Incorporated Documents”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”). All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “described,” “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the Rules and Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as the case may be. Any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) on or after the initial filing of the Registration Statement, or the date of such Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, as the case may be, and incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3. “Time of Sale” means each time a Share is purchased pursuant to this Agreement.
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(ii) (A) The Registration Statement complies as of the date hereof, will comply when it becomes effective and will comply upon the effectiveness of any amendment thereto and at each Time of Sale and each Settlement Date (as applicable), in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act; the conditions to the use of Form F-3 in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares as contemplated hereby (the “Offering”) were satisfied upon filing of the Registration Statement, subject, if applicable at the Time of Sale, to the limitations required by General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3; the Registration Statement meets, and the Offering complies with, the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(5)); the Registration Statement will not, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(B) The Prospectus, as of the date of the Prospectus Supplement, as of the date hereof (if filed with the Commission on or prior to the date hereof), and at each Settlement Date and Time of Sale (as applicable), complied, complies or will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act; and the Prospectus, and each supplement thereto, as of their respective dates, and at each Settlement Date and Time of Sale (as applicable), did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(C) Each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, as of its date and as of each Settlement Date and Time of Sale (as applicable) (when taken together with the Prospectus at such time) will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The representations and warranties set forth in subparagraphs (A), (B) and (C) above shall not apply to any statement contained in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information concerning the Agent that is furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Agent expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, it being understood and agreed that only such information furnished by the Agent as of the date hereof consists of the information described in Section 5(b)(ii).
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(iii) Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any Shares by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) or used any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) in connection with the Offering, in each case other than the Base Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus; the Company has not, directly or indirectly, prepared, used or referred to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus except in compliance with Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act; assuming that a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, is sent or given after the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission (and after such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, was, if required pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, filed with the Commission), the Company will satisfy the provisions of Rule 164 or Rule 433 necessary for the use of a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405) in connection with the Offering; the conditions set forth in one or more of subclauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, of Rule 433(b)(1) under the Securities Act are satisfied, and the Registration Statement relating to the Offering, as initially filed with the Commission, includes a prospectus that, other than by reason of Rule 433 or Rule 431 under the Securities Act, satisfies the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act; neither the Company nor the Agent is disqualified, by reason of subsection (f) or (g) of Rule 164 under the Securities Act, from using, in connection with the Offering, “free writing prospectuses” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) pursuant to Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act; the Company is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) as of the eligibility determination date for purposes of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated by the Registration Statement; the parties hereto agree and understand that the content of any and all “road shows” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) related to the Offering is solely the property of the Company.
(iv) Each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date, each Time of Sale and each Settlement Date occurring after such issue date, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Base Prospectus or the Prospectus. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agent specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Agent as of the date hereof consists of the information described in Section 5(b) (ii).
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(v) The financial statements, including the notes thereto, and the supporting schedules incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations, and present fairly the financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries (as identified in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the “Subsidiaries”) and financial position as of the dates indicated and the cash flows and results of operations for the periods specified of the Company. Except as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. Any selected financial data and summary financial information included in the documents in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus constitute or will constitute a fair summary of the information purported to be summarized and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. All disclosures, if any, contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or incorporated by reference therein regarding “non-IFRS financial measures” (as such term is defined by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission) comply, in all material respects, with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act to the extent applicable. The other financial information included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the information included therein and have been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the financial statements that are included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and the books and records of the Company.
(vi) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and validly exists as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its respective properties and carry on its business as it is currently being conducted and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the character or location of its properties (owned, leased or licensed) or the nature or conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary, except, in each case, for those failures to be so qualified or in good standing which (individually or in the aggregate) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below).
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(vii) All of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state securities laws and none of those shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to the extent any such rights were not waived; the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided in this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights that have not heretofore been waived (with copies of such waivers provided or made available to the Agent). The Shares conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the heading “Description of Capital Shares.”
(viii) BDO Audit Pty Ltd (the “Auditor”), whose reports relating to the Company are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”). To the Company’s knowledge, the Auditor is not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”) as such requirements pertain to the Auditor’s relationship with the Company. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except for any such non-audit services that were pre-approved by the Audit Committee of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) in accordance with Sections 10A(h) and (i) of the Exchange Act, the Auditor has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.
(ix) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is presented in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus: (i) the Company (including its Subsidiaries) has not declared, paid or made any dividends or other distributions of any kind on or in respect of its capital stock, and (ii) there has been no material adverse change or, to the Company’s knowledge, any development which would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in the future, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in or affecting (A) the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’ equity, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or (B) the Offering or consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (a “Material Adverse Effect”). Since the date of the latest balance sheet included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company (including its Subsidiaries) has not incurred or undertaken any liabilities or obligations, whether direct or indirect, liquidated or contingent, matured or unmatured, or entered into any transactions, including any acquisition or disposition of any business or asset, which are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except (I) for liabilities, obligations and transactions which were incurred in the ordinary course of business or are disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and (II) as would not be reasonably expected (individually or in the aggregate) to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(x) There are no statutes, regulations, contracts or documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement by the Securities Act that have not been so described or filed.
(xi) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is: (i) in violation of its form of constitution or other organizational documents, (ii) in default under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property or assets is subject; and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance (a “Lien”) upon any of its property or assets pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property or assets is subject, or (iii) in violation in any respect of any applicable law, rule, regulation, ordinance, directive, judgment, decree or order of any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, except, in the case of subsections (ii) and (iii) above, for such violations, defaults or Liens as are disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or which (individually or in the aggregate) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xii) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance under this Agreement and each of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and is enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
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(xiii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not: (i) conflict with, require consent under or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement, instrument, franchise, license or permit to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its properties, operations or assets may be bound, (ii) violate or conflict with any provision of the form of constitution or other organizational documents of the Company, (iii) violate or conflict with any applicable law, rule, regulation, ordinance, directive, judgment, decree or order of any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, or (iv) trigger a reset or repricing of any outstanding securities of the Company, except (x) in the case of subsection (i) for any consent which the Company has obtained or any conflict, breach or default for which the Company has received a waiver, (y) in the case of subsections (i) and (iii) for any default, conflict, violation or Lien that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (z) in the case of subsection (iv) for any trigger for which the Company has received a waiver.
(xiv) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has all consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations, qualifications, licenses, filings, grants, certificates and permits of, with and from all judicial, regulatory and other legal or governmental agencies, self-regulatory agencies, authorities and bodies and all third parties, foreign and domestic (collectively, the “Consents”), to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as it is now being conducted and as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each such Consent is valid and in full force and effect, except such failure to have a Consent or of such Consent to be valid and in full force and effect which (individually or in the aggregate) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice of any investigation or proceedings which, if decided adversely to the Company or such Subsidiary, would reasonably be expected to result in, the revocation of, or imposition of a restriction on, any Consent, except such restriction or revocation of such Consent which (individually or in the aggregate) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Consent contains any material restriction not adequately disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
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(xv) The Company is, and each of its Subsidiaries is, in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, directives, judgments, decrees and orders, foreign and domestic, except for any non-compliance the consequences of which would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvi) Prior to the Settlement Date, the Shares shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, subject to official notice of issuance (the “Exchange”), and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, delisting the Shares nor, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, has the Company received any notification that the Exchange is contemplating terminating such listing.
(xvii) No consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations, qualifications, licenses, filings, grants, certificates and permits of, with or from any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body or any third party, foreign or domestic is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or consummation of each of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares to be issued, sold and delivered hereunder, except (i) such as may have previously been obtained (with copies of such consents provided to the Agent), each of which is in full force and effect as of the date hereof, (ii) the registration under the Securities Act of the Shares, (iii) such consents as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws or the bylaws and rules of the Exchange, and (iv) by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Agent.
(xviii) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no judicial, regulatory, arbitral or other legal or governmental proceeding or other litigation or arbitration, domestic or foreign, pending to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or of which any property, operations or assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries is the subject which (i) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, no such proceeding, litigation or arbitration is threatened or contemplated against the Company or its Subsidiaries.
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(xix) The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources, to the extent required, except for such failures to obtain written consent which (individually or in the aggregate) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xx) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) and such controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information relating to the Company required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has utilized such controls and procedures in preparing and evaluating the disclosure in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus.
(xxi) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Board nor the audit committee has been informed, nor is the Company aware, of: (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(xxii) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action which constitutes or is designed to cause or result in, or which could reasonably be expected to constitute, cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(xxiii) Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates (within the meaning of the Securities Act) has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations with the offer and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates has sold or issued any securities during the six-month period preceding the date of the Prospectus Supplement, including but not limited to any sales pursuant to Rule 144A, Regulation D or Regulation S under the Securities Act, other than Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to equity incentive plans, employee stock purchase plans, employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, convertible notes, convertible preferred stock, rights or warrants to purchase Ordinary Shares.
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(xxiv) To the knowledge of the Company, the biographies of the Company’s officers and directors incorporated into the Registration Statement are true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the questionnaires previously completed by the directors and officers of the Company to become inaccurate and incorrect in any material respect.
(xxv) To the knowledge of the Company, no director or officer of the Company is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect his or her ability to be and act in his or her respective capacity of the Company.
(xxvi) The Company is not and, at all times up to and including the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and after giving effect to application of the Net Proceeds (as defined below), will not be, subject to registration as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is not and will not be an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of such act.
(xxvii) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Affiliate of the Company, on the one hand, and any director, officer, stockholder, customer or supplier of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Affiliate of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Rules and Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which is not so described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company has not, in violation of Sarbanes-Oxley, directly or indirectly extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer of the Company.
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(xxviii) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is in compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Exchange or any other governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency having jurisdiction over the Company, except for such failures to be in compliance which (individually or in the aggregate) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing: (i) all members of the Board who are required to be “independent” (as that term is defined under the rules of the Exchange), including, without limitation, all members of the audit committee of the Board, meet the qualifications of independence as set forth under applicable laws, rules and regulations and (ii) the audit committee of the Board has at least one member who is an “audit committee financial expert” (as that term is defined under applicable laws, rules and regulations).
(xxix) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns or leases all such properties (other than intellectual property, which is covered below) as are necessary to the conduct of its business as presently operated and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by it, in each case free and clear of all Liens except such as are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or such as would not (individually or in the aggregate) have a Material Adverse Effect. Any real property and buildings held under lease or sublease by the Company or its Subsidiaries are held by it under valid, subsisting and, to the Company’s knowledge, enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material to, and do not materially interfere with, the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company or its Subsidiaries, and except, with respect to retail store leases (individually or in the aggregate) as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any claim adverse to its ownership of any real or material personal property or of any claim against the continued possession of any real property, whether owned or held under lease or sublease by the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for such claims that, if successfully asserted against the Company or its Subsidiaries, would not (individually or in the aggregate) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxx) The Company (including all of its Subsidiaries): (i) owns, possesses or has the right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, formulae, customer lists and know-how and other intellectual property (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures, “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of its businesses as being conducted and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and (ii) has no knowledge that the conduct of its business conflicts or will conflict with the rights of others, and it has not received any written notice of any claim of conflict with, any right of others. To the Company’s knowledge, there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property. There is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s rights in or to any such Intellectual Property; and there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not received any claim for royalties or other compensation from any person, including any employee of the Company who made inventive contributions to Company’s technology or products that are pending or unsettled, and except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus the Company does not and will not have any obligation to pay royalties or other compensation to any person on account of inventive contributions.
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(xxxi) The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the applicable provisions of the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company (or its Subsidiaries) is a party or by which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and none of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company (including any Subsidiaries), and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in material breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder, except, in any such case, as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxxii) The disclosures in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects.
(xxxiii) The Company has accurately prepared and filed all federal, state, foreign and other tax returns that are required to be filed by it through the date hereof, or has received timely extensions thereof, except where the failure to so file would not (individually or in the aggregate) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid or made provision for the payment of all material taxes, assessments, governmental or other similar charges, including without limitation, all sales and use taxes and all taxes which the Company is obligated to withhold from amounts owing to employees, creditors and third parties, with respect to the periods covered by such tax returns, whether or not such amounts are shown as due on any tax return (except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by IFRS have been created in the financial statements of the Company) and except for such taxes, assessments, governmental or other similar charges the nonpayment of which would not (individually or in the aggregate) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No deficiency assessment with respect to a proposed adjustment of the Company’s federal, state, local or foreign taxes is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened. The accruals and reserves on the books and records of the Company in respect of tax liabilities for any taxable period not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments and related liabilities for any such period and, since the date of the Company’s most recent audited financial statements, the Company has not incurred any material liability for taxes other than in the ordinary course of its business. There is no tax lien for taxes due and payable (except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by IFRS have been created in the financial statements of the Company), whether imposed by any federal, state, foreign or other taxing authority, outstanding against the assets, properties or business of the Company.
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(xxxiv) No labor disturbance or dispute by or with the employees of the Company which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, currently exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the labor and employment laws and collective bargaining agreements and extension orders applicable to its employees.
(xxxv) Except as would not be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (x) the Company (and its Subsidiaries) is in compliance with all material Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined), and (y) to the Company’s knowledge, no future expenditures are or will be required in order to comply therewith. The Company has not received any written notice or communication that relates to or alleges any actual or potential violation or failure to comply with any Environmental Laws that would, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, the term “Environmental Laws” means all applicable laws and regulations, including any licensing, permits or reporting requirements, and any action by a federal, state or local government entity, pertaining to the protection of the environment, protection of public health, or the handling of hazardous materials, including without limitation, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401, et seq., the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq., the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1321, et seq., the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 1801, et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 690-1, et seq., and the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq.
(xxxvi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus identify each employment, severance or other similar agreement, arrangement or policy and each material arrangement providing for insurance coverage, benefits, bonuses, stock options or other forms of incentive compensation, or post-retirement insurance, compensation or benefits which: (i) is entered into, maintained or contributed to, as the case may be, by the Company and (ii) covers any officer or director or former officer or former director of the Company, in each case to the extent required by the Rules and Regulations. These contracts, plans and arrangements are referred to collectively in this Agreement as the “Benefit Arrangements.” Each Benefit Arrangement has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and with requirements prescribed by any and all statutes, orders, rules and regulations that are applicable to that Benefit Arrangement in each case except where the failure to comply is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxxvii) The Company is not a party to or subject to any employment contract or arrangement providing for annual future compensation, or the opportunity to earn annual future compensation (whether through fixed salary, bonus, commission, options or otherwise) of more than $120,000 to any executive officer or director that is required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, which is not so described.
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(xxxviii) The conditions for use of Form F-3 to register the Offering under the Securities Act, as set forth in the General Instructions to such Form, have been satisfied.
(xxxix) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Offering, constitutes a triggering event under any Benefit Arrangement or any other employment contract, whether or not legally enforceable, which (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent event) will or may result in any payment (of severance pay or otherwise), acceleration, increase in vesting or increase in benefits to any current or former participant, employee or director of the Company other than an event that is not material to the financial condition or business of the Company.
(xl) Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its employees or agents, has at any time during the last three (3) years: (i) made any unlawful contribution to any candidate for foreign office, or failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation of law, or (ii) made any payment to any person that is, to the Company’s knowledge, a federal or state governmental officer or official or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties in the United States, other than payments that are not prohibited by the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction thereof.
(xli) The Company has not offered, or caused the Agent to offer, any Shares to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (i) a supplier of the Company to alter the supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or (ii) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company.
(xlii) The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial record keeping and reporting requirements and applicable money laundering statutes of the United States and, to the Company’s knowledge, all other applicable jurisdictions to which the Company is subject, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any applicable governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.
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(xliii) Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(xliv) None of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company has engaged in any activities sanctionable under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 or any Executive Order relating to any of the foregoing (collectively, and as each may be amended from time to time, the “Iran Sanctions”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of engaging in any activities sanctionable under the Iran Sanctions.
(xlv) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer, director or stockholder of the Company (each, an “Insider”) with respect to the sale of the Shares hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its stockholders that may affect the Agent’s compensation, as determined by FINRA. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise), including the issuance any warrants or other securities or granted any options, directly or indirectly, to (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company, (ii) a potential underwriter in the Offering or a related person (as defined by FINRA rules), (iii) to any FINRA member, or (iv) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, in each case, within the 180 days prior to the filing date of the Registration Statement and shall not make such a payment between such date and the effective date of the Registration Statement. None of the Net Proceeds will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein. To the Company’s knowledge, (w) no officer, director or any beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Company’s securities (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) (any such individual or entity, a “Company Affiliate”) has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA); (x) no Company Affiliate is an owner of stock or other securities of any FINRA member (other than securities purchased on the open market); (y) no Company Affiliate has made a subordinated loan to any FINRA member; and (z) no Net Proceeds from the sale of the Shares will be paid to any FINRA member, or any persons associated with or affiliated with any FINRA member. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, to the Company’s knowledge, no FINRA member participating in the offering has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict of interest” has the meaning ascribed to such term in FINRA Rule 5121(f)(5).
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(xlvi) The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any prospectus or other offering material in connection with the Offering other than the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or other materials permitted by the Securities Act to be distributed by the Company; provided, however, that the Company has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, except any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.
(b) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Agent or the Agent’s counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to Agent as to the matters covered thereby.
(c) At each Bringdown Date (as hereinafter defined) and each Time of Sale, the Company shall be deemed to have affirmed each representation and warranty contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement in all material respects as of such date as though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares on such date, and except that representations and warranties made as of a specific date shall be deemed to be affirmed in all material respects as of such specific date).
(d) As used in this Agreement, references to matters being “material” with respect to the Company shall mean a material event, change, condition, status or effect related to the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, business, prospects, operations or results of operations of the Company, either individually or taken as a whole, as the context requires.
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2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Shares.
(a) At the Market Sales. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein the Company agrees that, from time to time following the effective date of the Registration Statement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through the Agent, acting as sales agent, Shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 (the “Offering Size”); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company issue or sell through the Agent such number of Shares that (a) exceeds the number or dollar amount of Ordinary Shares registered on the Registration Statement pursuant to which the Offering is being made, or (b) would cause the Company or the Offering to not satisfy the eligibility and transaction requirements for use of Form F-3 (including, if then applicable, General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3) (the lesser of (a) and (b), the “Maximum Amount”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 2(a) on the number and aggregate sales price of Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company and the Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company agrees that it will provide the Agent with written notice no less than one (1) Business Day prior to the date on which it makes the initial sale of Shares under this Agreement. “Business Day”, as used herein, shall mean any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York, Sydney, Australia or Auckland, New Zealand are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or obligated to be closed due to a “shelter in place,” “non-essential employee” or similar closure of physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority if such banks’ electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) are open for use by customers on such day. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company and Agent acknowledge and agree that no sales shall be made pursuant to this Agreement until such time as the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission.
(i) For purposes of selling the Shares through the Agent, the Company hereby appoints the Agent as exclusive agent of the Company (including in the event the Company increases the Offering Size) for the purpose of soliciting purchases of the Shares from the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the Agent agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions stated herein.
(ii) Each time the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares hereunder (each, a “Transaction”), it will notify the Agent by telephone (confirmed promptly by e-mail to the appropriate individual listed on Schedule D hereto, using a form substantially similar to that set forth on Schedule C hereto) (a “Transaction Notice”) as to the maximum number of Shares to be sold by the Agent on such day and in any event not in excess of the amount available for issuance under the Prospectus and the currently effective Registration Statement, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of shares that may be sold in any one Trading Day (as defined below), and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. The Transaction Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule B (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such Schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from the Agent set forth on Schedule D, as such Schedule D may be amended from time to time. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and unless the sale of the Shares described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Agent shall promptly acknowledge the Transaction Notice by e-mail (or by some other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell all of the Shares so designated by the Company in the Transaction Notice and in accordance with the terms set forth herein; provided, however, that any obligation of the Agent to use such commercially reasonable efforts shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 4 of this Agreement. The gross sales price of the Shares sold under this Section 2(a) shall be equal to the market price for the Ordinary Shares sold by the Agent under this Section 2(a) on the Exchange at the time of such sale. For the purposes hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which Ordinary Shares are purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Ordinary Shares are listed or quoted.
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(iii) The Company or the Agent may, upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by e-mail to the respective individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule D hereto, which confirmation shall be promptly acknowledged by the other party), suspend the Offering for any reason and at any time, whereupon the Agent shall so suspend the offering of Shares until further notice is provided by the other party to the contrary; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt by the Agent of such notice. Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 2(a)(iii) shall be effective against the other unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Schedule D hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.
(iv) The Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that the Agent will be successful in selling the Shares, (B) the Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Shares as required under this Agreement, and (C) the Agent shall be under no obligation to purchase shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement.
(v) The Agent may sell Shares by any method permitted by law to be an “at-the-market offering” as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act including without limitation sales made directly on the Exchange, on any other existing trading market for the Ordinary Shares or to or through a market maker. With the prior written consent of the Company, which may be provided in a Transaction Notice, the Agent may also sell Shares in privately negotiated transactions.
(vi) The compensation to the Agent for sales of the Shares, as an agent of the Company, shall be 3.0% of the gross sales price of all Shares sold pursuant to this Section 2(a) (the “Transaction Fee”). The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction or other fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales, shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”). The Agent shall notify the Company as promptly as practicable if any deduction referenced in the preceding sentence will be required.
(vii) The Agent shall provide written confirmation to the Company following the close of trading on the Exchange each day in which the Shares are sold under this Section 2(a) setting forth the number of the Shares sold on such day, the aggregate gross sale proceeds, the Net Proceeds to the Company, and the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent with respect to such sales.
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(viii) All Shares sold pursuant to this Section 2(a) will be delivered by the Company to Agent for the accounts of the Agent on the second full Trading Day following the date on which such Shares are sold, or at such other time and date as Agent and the Company determine pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act, each such time and date of delivery being herein referred to as a “Settlement Date.” On each Settlement Date, the Shares sold through the Agent for settlement on such date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to the Agent against payment of the Net Proceeds from the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares shall be effected by free delivery of the Shares by the Company or its transfer agent (i) to the Agent or its designee’s account (provided the Agent shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or (ii) by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto, which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form, in return for payment in same day funds delivered to an account designated by the Company. If the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) shall default on its obligation to deliver the Shares on any Settlement Date, the Company shall (A) indemnify and hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay the Agent any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default. If the Agent breaches this Agreement by failing to deliver the Net Proceeds on any Settlement Date for the shares delivered by the Company, the Agent will pay the Company interest based on the effective prime rate until such proceeds, together with such interest, have been fully paid.
(ix) Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Shares, the aggregate gross sales proceeds sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) together with all sales of Shares under this Agreement, the Maximum Amount, (B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement and (C) the amount authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Board, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee, and the Agent has been so notified in writing. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Board, duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee, and notified to the Agent in writing. Further, under no circumstances shall the aggregate offering amount of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement exceed the Maximum Amount.
(b) Nothing herein contained shall constitute the Agent to be in an unincorporated association with, or a partner of, the Company. Under no circumstances shall any Shares be sold pursuant to this Agreement after the date which is three years after the Registration Statement was first declared effective by the Commission.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees that no sale of Shares shall take place, and the Company shall not request the sale of any Shares, and the Agent shall not be obligated to sell, during any period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information.
(d) Unless the exceptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are satisfied with respect to the Shares, the Company shall give the Agent at least one Business Day’s prior notice of its intent to sell any Shares in order to allow the Agent time to comply with Regulation M.
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3. Covenants. The Company covenants and agrees with the Agent as follows:
(a) After the date hereof and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Shares (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement (including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement), the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus related to changes in this Agreement, the Company shall furnish to the Agent for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, allow the Agent a reasonable amount of time to review and comment on such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Agent or counsel to the Agent reasonably object; provided that the foregoing shall not apply with regards to the filing by the Company of any Form 20-F, 6-K or other Incorporated Document. Subject to this Section 3(a), immediately following execution of this Agreement, if not previously prepared, the Company will prepare a prospectus supplement describing the selling terms of the Shares hereunder, the plan of distribution thereof and such other information as may be required by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations or as the Agent and the Company may deem appropriate, and if requested by the Agent, a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus containing the selling terms of the Shares hereunder and such other information as the Company and the Agent may deem appropriate, and will file or transmit for filing with the Commission, in accordance with Rule 424(b) or Rule 433, as the case may be, copies of the Prospectus as supplemented and each such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.
(b) After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Agent in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission or for any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (excluding any Incorporated Documents), (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any pre-effective or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (excluding any Incorporated Documents), (iii) of the time and date that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order preventing or suspending its use or the use of any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or (v) of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Ordinary Shares from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430B and 430C, as applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b), Rule 433 or Rule 462 were received in a timely manner by the Commission (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b)).
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(c) From the date hereof through the later of (A) the termination of this Agreement and (B) the end of any applicable Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply in all material respects with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in force, and by the Exchange Act so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. If during any applicable Prospectus Delivery Period any event occurs as a result of which the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during any applicable Prospectus Delivery Period it is necessary or appropriate in the opinion of the Company or its counsel or in the reasonable opinion of the Agent or counsel to the Agent to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or to file under the Exchange Act any document which would be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly notify Agent (or the Agent will notify the Company, as applicable), and the Agent shall suspend the offering and sale of any such Shares, and the Company will amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or file such document (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance within the time period prescribed by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
(i) In case the Agent is required to deliver (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule), in connection with the sale of the Shares, a Prospectus after the nine-month period referred to in Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act, or after the time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is required pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, the Company will prepare, at its expense, promptly upon request such amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as the case may be. The Company shall cause each amendment or supplement to any Base Prospectus or the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act or, in the case of any document which would be deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed. The Company shall promptly notify the Agent if any material obligation, agreement or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note, indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed of trust or any other material contract, lease or other instrument to which it is subject or by which any of them may be bound, or to which any of the material property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject (each a “Material Contract”) is terminated or if the other party thereto gives written notice of its intent to terminate any such contract (other than in connection with the expiration of any such Material Contract).
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(ii) If at any time following issuance of a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus there occurs an event or development as a result of which such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus, or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company promptly will notify the Agent and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
(d) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all necessary action to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as Agent reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect, if and for so long as required for the distribution of the Shares, except that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process in any state. The Company shall promptly advise the Agent of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
(e) The Company will furnish to the Agent and counsel for the Agent, to the extent requested, copies of the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request.
(f) The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations. If the Company makes any public announcement or release disclosing its results of operations or financial condition for a completed quarterly, semi-annual or annual fiscal period (each, an “Earnings Release”) and the Company has not yet filed an Annual Report on Form 20-F for such annual fiscal period or a Form 6-K containing unaudited financial statements for such quarterly or semi-annual fiscal period, as applicable, then, prior to any sale of Shares, the Company shall be obligated to (x) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b), which prospectus supplement shall include the applicable financial information or (y) file a Report on Form 6-K, which Form 6-K shall include the applicable financial information.
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(g) The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid (i) all expenses (including stock or transfer taxes and stamp or similar duties allocated to the respective transferees) incurred in connection with the registration, issue, sale and delivery of the Shares, (ii) all reasonable expenses and fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and counsel) in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, delivery, and shipping of the Registration Statement (including the financial statements therein and all amendments, schedules, and exhibits thereto), the Base Prospectus, each Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, and the producing, word-processing, printing, delivery, and shipping of this Agreement and other closing documents, including blue sky memoranda (covering the states and other applicable jurisdictions) and including the cost to furnish copies of each thereof to the Agent, (iii) all filing fees, (iv) listing fees, if any, (v) [intentionally omitted], and (vi) all other costs and expenses of the Company incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for herein (including the costs and expenses related to any investor presentations or “roadshow” undertaken in connection with marketing of the Shares as agreed to by the Company). The Company shall reimburse the Agent upon request for its actual, reasonable and documented costs and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, including the actual, reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket expenses of its legal counsel, up to an aggregate of $30,000. In addition, the Company shall pay the Agent up to $5,000 for the reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket expenses of its legal counsel in connection with each Bringdown Date (other than a Bringdown Date that is waived).
(h) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.
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(i) During each period commencing on the date of each Transaction Notice and ending after the close of business on the Settlement Date for the related transactions covered by such Transaction Notice, the Company will not offer for sale, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option for the sale of, enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any Subsidiary, or otherwise issue or dispose of, directly or indirectly (or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, grant, issuance or other disposition), of any Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any options or rights to purchase or acquire, Ordinary Shares, or permit the registration under the Securities Act of any Ordinary Shares, such securities, options or rights, except for (i) the registration of the Shares and the sales through the Agent pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) the issuance of securities issuable upon exercise, exchange or conversion of any options, convertible preferred stock, convertible notes and warrants that are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) a registration statement on Form S-8 relating to employee benefit plans and (iv) the issuance of securities pursuant to any employee stock incentive plan, stock ownership plan or employee stock purchase plan of the Company in effect at the time of this Agreement or any compensatory inducement grants made by the Company and approved by the Board consistent with past practice.
(j) The Company shall not, at any time at or after the execution of this Agreement, offer or sell any of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act), or use any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, in each case other than the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.
(k) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which has constituted, (i) the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or (ii) a violation of Regulation M. The Company shall notify the Agent of any violation of Regulation M by the Company or any of its officers or directors promptly after the Company has received notice or obtained knowledge of any such violation.
(l) The Company will not incur any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except as contemplated herein.
(m) During any applicable Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will file on a timely basis with the Commission such periodic and current reports as required by the Rules and Regulations.
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(n) The Company has maintained, and will maintain such controls and procedures, including without limitation those required by Sections 302 and 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley and the applicable regulations thereunder, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, to ensure that material information relating to Company is made known to them by others within those entities.
(o) [Intentionally omitted.]
(p) Each of the Company and Agent hereby represent and agree that, neither the Company nor the Agent has made nor will make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, required to be filed with the Commission other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.
(q) (1) On or prior to the date of the first Transaction Notice delivered hereunder, the Company shall cause (A) Graubard Miller, U.S. counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Agent its written opinion and negative assurance letter, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent’s counsel, (B) Mills Oakley, Australian counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Agent its written opinion, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent’s counsel, and the Agent shall cause (C) Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, as counsel for the Agent to furnish to the Agent its negative assurance letter.
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(2) On each date that the Company (i) amends or supplements the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (other than by means of incorporation by reference); (ii) files an annual report on Form 20-F under the Exchange Act; (iii) files a report on Form 6-K under the Exchange Act containing quarterly or semi-annual financial statements; or (iv) files a report on Form 6-K under the Exchange Act containing amended financial information (each of such date referred to herein as a “Bringdown Date”), the Company shall cause (A) Graubard Miller, U.S. counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Agent its opinion and negative assurance letter, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent’s counsel, (B) Mills Oakley, Australian counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Agent its written opinion, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent’s counsel, and the Agent shall cause (C) Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, as counsel for the Agent to furnish to the Agent its negative assurance letter, each dated as of a date within ten (10) days after the applicable Bringdown Date, addressed to the Agent and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinions. With respect to this Section 3(q)(2), in lieu of delivering such opinions or letters for Bringdown Dates subsequent to the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, such counsel may furnish agent with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that Agent may rely upon a prior opinion or letter delivered under Section 3(q)(1) or this Section 3(q)(2) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of the date of Reliance Letter). Provided, however, the requirement to provide opinions and letters under this Section 3(q)(2) is hereby waived for any Bringdown Date occurring at a time at which no Transaction Notice is pending, which waiver shall terminate as of the date the Company delivers a Transaction Notice hereunder prior to the next occurring Bringdown Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Shares following a Bringdown Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide Agent with opinions and letters under this Section 3(q)(2), then before the Company delivers the Transaction Notice or Agent sells any Shares, the Company shall cause each of Graubard Miller to furnish to the Agent a written opinion and negative assurance letter, Mills Oakley to furnish the Agent a written opinion, and the Agent shall cause Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP to furnish to the Agent its negative assurance letter, dated the date of the Transaction Notice.
(r) Prior to the delivery of the first Transaction Notice hereunder and within five (5) days after each Bringdown Date, the Company shall cause the Auditor, or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Agent, to deliver to the Agent (x) a customary comfort letter (the initial letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter,” and each subsequent letter, a “Bringdown Comfort Letter”) addressed to Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualifications of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and stating the conclusions and findings of said firm with respect to the financial information and other matters and (y) a letter updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and as modified as necessary to relate to the date of such letter. Provided, however, the requirement to provide a Bringdown Comfort Letter under this Section 3(r) is hereby waived for any Bringdown Date occurring at a time at which no Transaction Notice is pending, which waiver shall terminate as of the date the Company delivers a Transaction Notice hereunder prior to the next occurring Bringdown Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Shares following a Bringdown Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide Agent with a Bringdown Comfort Letter under this Section 3(r), then before the Company delivers the Transaction Notice or Agent sells any Shares, the Company shall cause the Auditor, or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Agent, to deliver to the Agent a Bringdown Comfort Letter dated the date of the Transaction Notice.
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(s) On or prior to the date of the first Transaction Notice delivered hereunder and each Bringdown Date, the Company shall furnish to the Agent an officer’s certificate, dated as of a date within five (5) days after the applicable Bringdown Date and addressed to Agent, signed by the chief executive officer and by the chief financial officer of the Company, to the effect that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as if made at and as of the date of the certificate (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares on such date, and except that representations and warranties made as of a specific date are true and correct in all material respects as of such specific date), and the Company has complied in all material respects with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the date of the certificate;
(ii) No stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof or the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale or notice that would prevent use of the Registration Statement, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge, is contemplated by the Commission or any state or regulatory body;
(iii) The Shares to be sold on that date have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares on that date has been validly and sufficiently taken;
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(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as amended and supplemented, and except for pending transactions disclosed therein, the Company has not incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, not in the ordinary course of business, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock, and there has not been any material change in the capital stock or any material issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock (other than as a result of the exercise of any currently outstanding options, warrants, preferred stock and notes that are disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or the issuance of securities pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans or employee stock purchase plans described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus), or any material change in the short-term or long-term debt, of the Company, or any Material Adverse Effect or any development that would reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect (whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business), or any material loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, incurred by the Company; and
(v) Except as stated in the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as amended and supplemented, there is not pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, any action, suit or proceeding to which the Company is a party before or by any court or governmental agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator, which would reasonably be likely to result in any Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, the requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 3(s) is hereby waived for any Bringdown Date occurring at a time at which no Transaction Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers a Transaction Notice hereunder and the next occurring Bringdown Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Shares following a Bringdown Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide Agent with a certificate under this Section 3(s), then before the Company delivers the Transaction Notice or Agent sells any Shares, the Company shall provide Agent with a certificate dated the date of the Transaction Notice.
provided, however, the requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 3(s) is hereby waived for any Bringdown Date occurring at a time at which no Transaction Notice is pending, which waiver shall terminate as of the date the Company delivers a Transaction Notice hereunder prior to the next occurring Bringdown Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Shares following a Bringdown Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide Agent with a certificate under this Section 3(s), then before the Company delivers the Transaction Notice or Agent sells any Shares, the Company shall provide Agent with a certificate dated the date of the Transaction Notice.
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(t) A reasonable time prior to each Bringdown Date, the Company, if so requested by the Agent, shall conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance, satisfactory to the Agent, which shall include representatives of the management and the accountants of the Company.
(u) The Company shall disclose in its annual report on Form 20-F and its reports on Form 6-K containing quarterly or semi-annual financial statements the number of Shares sold through the Agent under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.
(v) The Company shall ensure that there are at all times sufficient Ordinary Shares to provide for the issuance, free of any preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares, of the maximum aggregate number of Shares authorized for issuance by the Board pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shares to be listed on the Exchange, and to maintain such listing. The Company shall cooperate with Agent and use its reasonable efforts to permit Shares to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.
(w) At any time during the term of this Agreement, the Company will advise the Agent promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge of any information or fact that would alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Agent pursuant to Section 3.
(x) Subject to compliance with any applicable requirements of Regulation M under the Exchange Act and compliance with applicable securities laws, the Company consents to the Agent trading in the Ordinary Shares for the Agent’s own account and for the account of its clients (in compliance with all applicable laws) at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement.
(y) If to the knowledge of the Company, any condition set forth in Section 4 shall not have been satisfied on the applicable Settlement Date or will not be satisfied on or prior to the date required by this Agreement, the Company will offer to any person who has agreed to purchase the Shares on such Settlement Date from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Agent the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Shares.
(z) On or prior to the date of the first Transaction Notice delivered hereunder and each Bringdown Date, the Company shall furnish to the Agent an incumbency certificate, dated as of such date and addressed to Agent, signed by the secretary of the Company.
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(aa) Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Agent that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the date of such acceptance as though made at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct in all material respects as of the Settlement Date for the Shares relating to such acceptance, as though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares, and except that representations and warranties made as of a specific date are true and correct in all material respects as of such specific date).
(bb) During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder.
(cc) The Company shall cooperate with Agent and use its reasonable efforts to permit the Shares to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.
(dd) The Company will apply the Net Proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth in the Prospectus.
(ee) Following the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, to the extent that the Registration Statement is not available for the sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company shall file a new registration statement with respect to any additional Ordinary Shares necessary to complete such sales of the Shares and shall cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable. After the effectiveness of any such registration statement, all references to “Registration Statement” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include such new registration statement, including all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3, and all references to “Base Prospectus” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the final form of prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in any such registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective.
(ff) During the term of the Agreement, the Company will provide the Agent with prompt notice of any planned offering of its equity, equity-linked or debt securities to permit the Agent to determine if and when sales under the Agreement must be suspended. The Agent shall use its best efforts to provide consent to such planned offering within one (1) Business Day after receipt of such notice but in no event later than three (3) Business Days after receipt of such notice. The Company covenants and agrees that until the Agent has provided consent, the Company shall not commence any such planned offering, provided that after such three (3) Business Day period, the Company may proceed with such offering without the Agent’s consent.
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4. Conditions of Agent’s Obligations. The obligations of the Agent hereunder are subject to (i) the accuracy in all material respects of all representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, as of the date hereof, as of the date of the first Transaction Notice, each Bringdown Date, and each Time of Sale (in each case, as if made at such date, except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares on such date, and except that representations and warranties made as of a specific date shall be accurate in all material respects as of such specific date), (ii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions:
(a) If filing of the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, is required under the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Company shall have filed the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement) or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission in the manner and within the time period so required (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b)); the Registration Statement shall have become and remain effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the Agent’s satisfaction.
(b) The Agent shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the Agent’s opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the Agent’s opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein (i) with respect to the Registration Statement, not misleading and (ii) with respect to the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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(c) Except as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as amended and supplemented, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given therein, the Company shall not have incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, not in the ordinary course of business, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock, and there shall not have been any material change in the capital stock, or any material issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock (other than as a result of the exercise of any currently outstanding options, preferred stock, notes or warrants that are disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or the issuance of securities pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans or employee stock purchase plans described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus), or any material change in the short-term or long-term debt, of the Company, or any Material Adverse Effect or any development that would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect (whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business), or any material loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, incurred by the Company, the effect of which, in any such case described above, in the Agent’s judgment, makes it impractical or inadvisable to offer or deliver the Shares.
(d) The Company shall have performed each of its obligations under Section 3(q).
(e) The Company shall have performed each of its obligations under Section 3(r).
(f) The Company shall have performed each of its obligations under Section 3(s).
(g) FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(h) All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed by the Settlement Date shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.
(i) The Company shall have furnished to Agent and the Agent’s counsel such additional documents, certificates and evidence as they may have reasonably requested.
(j) Trading in the Ordinary Shares shall not have been suspended on the Exchange. The Shares shall have been listed and authorized for trading on the Exchange prior to the first Settlement Date, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Agent and its counsel, which may include oral confirmation from a representative of the Exchange.
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(k) On the date of the first Placement Notice and thereafter on each Bringdown Date, Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, counsel for the Agent, shall not have reasonably determined that the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as of such date, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading.
All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Agent and the Agent’s counsel. The Company will furnish Agent with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as Agent shall reasonably request.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and each of the other Indemnified Parties (as defined below) from and against any losses, claims, damages, obligations, penalties, judgments, awards, liabilities, costs, expenses and disbursements, and any and all actions suits proceedings and investigations in respect thereof and any and all legal and other costs, expenses and disbursements in giving testimony or furnishing documents in response to subpoena or otherwise (including, without limitation, the costs, expenses and disbursements, as and when incurred, of investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any such action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether or not in connection with litigation in which any Indemnified Party is a party)) (collectively, “Losses”), directly or indirectly, caused by, relating to, based upon, arising out of, or in connection with this Agreement, including, without limitation, any act or omission by the Agent in connection with its acceptance of or the performance or non-performance of its obligations under the Agreement, any breach by the Company of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in the Agreement (or in any instrument, document or agreement relating thereto, including any agency agreement), or the enforcement by the Agent of its rights under the Agreement or these indemnification provisions, except to the extent that any such Losses are found in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction (not subject to further appeal) to have resulted primarily and directly from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Indemnified Party seeking indemnification hereunder. The Company also agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to the Company for or in connection with this Agreement for any other reason, except to the extent that any such liability is found in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction (not subject to further appeal) to have resulted primarily and directly from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company otherwise might have.
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(i) These indemnification provisions shall extend to the following persons (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”): the Agent, its present and former affiliated entities, managers, members, officers, employees, legal counsel, agents and controlling persons (within the meaning of the federal securities laws), and the officers, directors, partners, stockholders, members, managers, employees, legal counsel, agents and controlling persons of any of them. These indemnification provisions shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any Indemnified Party.
(ii) If any action, suit, proceeding or investigation is commenced, as to which an Indemnified Party proposes to demand indemnification, it shall notify the Company with reasonable promptness; provided, however, that any failure by an Indemnified Party to notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from its obligations hereunder except to the extent that the Company is actually and materially prejudiced by such failure to notify. If the Company so elects or is requested by the Agent, the Company will assume the defense of such action or proceeding and will employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and will pay the fees, expenses and disbursements of such counsel. An Indemnified Party may employ counsel to participate in the defense of any such action; provided, that the employment by such Indemnified Party of such counsel shall be at the Indemnified Party’s own expense, unless (i) counsel for the Agent reasonably determines that it would be inappropriate under the applicable rules of professional responsibility for the same counsel to represent both the Company and the Indemnified Person, (ii) the defendants include both the Indemnified Persons and the Company and the Agent reasonably concludes that there may be legal defenses available to the Indemnified Persons that are different from or in addition to those available to the Company, or (iii) the Company has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to assume the defense of such action or proceeding within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the action or proceeding, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of one firm representing the Indemnified Parties (unless the defense of one Indemnified Party is unique or separate from that of another Indemnified Party subject to the same action or proceeding) will be at the expense of the Company. In the event the Company assumes the defense of such action or proceeding, the Agent shall cooperate, and shall cause the Indemnified Parties and any such counsel, to the extent consistent with its professional responsibilities, to cooperate, with the Company and any counsel designated by the Company. The Company shall be liable for any settlement of any claim against any Indemnified Party made with the Company’s written consent. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Agent, settle or compromise any claim, or permit a default or consent to the entry of any judgment in respect thereof, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes, as an unconditional term thereof, the giving by the claimant to all of the Indemnified Parties of an unconditional release from all liability in respect of such claim, and (ii) does not contain any factual or legal admission by or with respect to an Indemnified Party or an adverse statement with respect to the character, professionalism, expertise or reputation of any Indemnified Party or any action or inaction of any Indemnified Party.
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(b) (i) The Agent will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its affiliates and directors and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (the “Company Indemnified Parties”) from and against any Losses to which the Company or the Company Indemnified Parties may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Agent), insofar as such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by Agent expressly for use in the preparation thereof, it being understood and agreed that the only information furnished by the Agent consists of the information described as such in Section 5(b)(ii). (ii) The Agent confirms and the Company acknowledges that as of the date hereof no information has been furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Agent specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, other than information about the Agent included in the Prospectus Supplement under the heading “Plan of Distribution”.
(c) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution, if a claim for indemnification pursuant to these indemnification provisions is made but it is found in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction (not subject to further appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case, even though the express provisions hereof provide for indemnification in such case, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the Losses to which any indemnified party may be subject (i) in accordance with the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party and its stockholders, Subsidiaries and affiliates, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other hand, and (ii) if (and only if) the allocation provided in clause (i) of this sentence is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as to reflect not only the relative benefits, but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements, acts or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any relevant equitable considerations. No person found liable for a fraudulent misrepresentation shall be entitled to contribution from any person who is not also found liable for fraudulent misrepresentation. The relative benefits received (or anticipated to be received) by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the aggregate consideration payable or receivable by such parties in connection with the transaction or transactions to which the Agreement relates relative to the amount of fees actually received by the Agent in connection with such transaction or transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the amount contributed by all Indemnified Parties exceed the amount of fees previously received by the Agent pursuant to the Agreement.
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(d) Neither the termination of this Agreement nor completion of the Offering shall affect these indemnification provisions, which shall remain operative and in full force and effect. The indemnification provisions shall be binding upon the Company and the Agent and their respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnified Parties and the Company Indemnified Parties and their respective successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives.
6. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations and warranties of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, and agreements of the Agent and the Company herein, including but not limited to the agreements of the Agent and the Company contained in Section 5, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agent or any controlling person thereof, or the Company or any of its officers, directors, or controlling persons, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Shares to and by the Agent hereunder.
7. Termination of this Agreement. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the date hereof, and shall continue until the earlier of (i) the sale of Shares having an aggregate offering price of $50,000,000 or (ii) the termination by either the Agent or the Company upon the provision of ten (10) days written notice. Any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 shall remain in full force and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Agent shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate this Agreement if at any time from the date of this Agreement to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Agent is not fully satisfied, in its sole discretion, with the results of its and its representatives’ review of the Company and the Company’s business.
8. Default by the Company. If the Company shall fail at any Settlement Date to sell and deliver the number of Shares which it is obligated to sell hereunder, then the Agent may terminate this Agreement immediately without any liability on the part of the Agent or, except as provided in Section 3(g), any non-defaulting party. No action taken pursuant to this Section 8 shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of such default, and the Company shall (A) hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay the Agent any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default.
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9. Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and, if to the Agent, shall be mailed, delivered or emailed to Maxim Group LLC, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10174, Attention: Clifford A. Teller and James Siegel, email: cteller@maximgrp.com and/or jsiegel@maximgrp.com, with a required copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, counsel for the Agent, at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105 Attention: Sarah Williams, Esq., email: swilliams@egsllp.com. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at Naked Brand Group Limited, c/o Bendon Limited, 8 Airpark Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland 2022, New, Zealand, Attention: Justin Davis-Rice, email: justin.davis@bendon.com, with required copies (which shall not constitute notice) to Graubard Miller, The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10174, Attention: Jeffrey M. Gallant, Esq., and Eric T. Schwartz, Esq., email: jgallant@graubard.com and eschwartz@graubard.com. Any party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.
10. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and the controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 5. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” as herein used shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Shares from the Agent.
11. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Agent has been retained solely to act as an sales agent and/or principal in connection with the sale of the Shares and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Agent has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Agent has advised or is advising the Company on other matters; (b) the price and other terms of the Shares set forth in this Agreement were established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Agent and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (c) it has been advised that the Agent and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Agent has no obligation to disclose such interest and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; (d) it has been advised that the Agent is acting, in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, solely for the benefit of the Agent, and not on behalf of the Company; and (e) it waives to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Agent for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and agrees that the Agent shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.
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12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, including Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York, but otherwise without regard to conflict of laws rules that would apply the laws of any other jurisdiction.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
14. Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Shares.
15. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability; Headings. This Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto and transaction notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and the Agent. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement. The section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
16. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Company and the Agent hereby waives any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
[Signature Page to Follow]
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Please sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this letter whereupon this letter will become a binding agreement between the Company and the Agent in accordance with its terms.
Very
truly yours,
NAKED BRAND GROUP LIMITED
| By: | /s/ Justin Davis-Rice | |
| Name: | Justin Davis-Rice | |
| Title: | Executive Chairman |
Confirmed
as of the date first
above mentioned.
MAXIM GROUP LLC
| By: | /s/ Clifford A. Teller | |
| Name: | Clifford A. Teller | |
| Title: | Executive Managing Director, Investment Banking |
[Signature page to Naked Brand Group Limited Equity Distribution Agreement]
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
| 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 | 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 |
| ii |
| 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 |
| iii |
| 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.
| iv |
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.
| 1 |
“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.
| iv |
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 | |
| 19 October 2020 | |
The Directors Naked Brand Group Limited Building 7C, 2 Huntley Street Alexandria NSW 2015 Australia | |
|
| |
| |
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 (such registration statement as amended or supplemented from time to time) (Registration Statement) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to:
| (a) | the proposed offering, issuance and sale, in one or more public offerings by the Company, of up to US$200,000,000 of the Company’s ordinary shares (Ordinary Shares), preference shares (Preference Shares), warrants, debt securities, and units; and | |
| (b) | the proposed offering, issuance and sale by the Company of up to US$50,000,000 of the Company’s Ordinary Shares (ATM Ordinary Shares) that may be issued and sold, from time to time, under a sales agreement (Equity Distribution Agreement) with Maxim Group, LLC, acting as the Company’s exclusive sales agent. |
| 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 draft of the Equity Distribution Agreement; | |
| (c) | a current company extract obtained as at 7:03am AEST on 19 October 2020, from the records of the Company which are available to the public on a database maintained by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); |
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| (d) | 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; | |
| (e) | 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; | |
| (f) | the Constitution of the Company (Constitution); | |
| (g) | a special resolution of the sole shareholder of the Company dated 19 June 2018 whereby the Company adopted the Constitution; and | |
| (h) | 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, the Ordinary Shares will be validly issued and fully paid; | |
| (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, the Preference Shares will be validly issued and fully paid; and | |
| (d) | (ATM Ordinary Shares validly issued) when the ATM Ordinary Shares are issued, sold and paid for as contemplated in the Equity Distribution Agreement, the ATM Ordinary 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 rights attaching to the Preference Shares in relation to dividends, repayment of capital, participation in surplus assets and profits, voting, redeemability and convertibility have been validly determined prior to their issue in accordance with the Constitution and the Corporations Act; | |
| (d) | the board of directors of the Company will approve the allotment and issue of the Ordinary Shares, Preference Shares and ATM Ordinary 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; |
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| (e) | upon issue, each holder of the Ordinary Shares will have fully paid the amount payable to the Company for their Ordinary Shares; | |
| (f) | upon issue, each holder of the Preference Shares will have fully paid the amount payable to the Company for their Preference Shares; | |
| (g) | upon issue, each holder of the ATM Ordinary Shares will have fully paid the amount payable to the Company for their ATM Ordinary Shares; | |
| (h) | that any document recording the authorisation of the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Equity Distribution Agreement, including the issue of the Ordinary Shares, Preference Shares and ATM Ordinary Shares, is a true, complete and accurate record of an authorisation which is valid in all respects; | |
| (i) | 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 and the Equity Distribution Agreement have been obtained, remain valid and subsisting and have been complied with; | |
| (j) | that no law or official directive of any jurisdiction, other than a Relevant Jurisdiction (as defined below), affects any of the opinions expressed; | |
| (k) | that the implementation of the transactions or matters contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Equity Distribution Agreement will not involve an illegal or improper purpose under any law, including any Relevant Law (as defined below); | |
| (l) | upon issue, the Ordinary Shares will be, duly registered, and will continue to be registered, in the Company’s Register of Members; | |
| (m) | upon issue, the Preference Shares will be, duly registered, and will continue to be registered, in the Company’s Register of Members; | |
| (n) | upon issue, the ATM Ordinary Shares will be, duly registered, and will continue to be registered, in the Company’s Register of Members; | |
| (o) | 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; | |
| (p) | 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 United States Securities and Exchange Commission; | |
| (q) | that the Equity Distribution Statement has not been amended in any material respect to the draft provided to us; | |
| (r) | 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 | |
| (s) | that the formalities for execution required by the law of the place of execution of each document examined have or will be complied with. |
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| 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 (AEDT) on the date of this opinion (Relevant Jurisdiction); and | |
| (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 and the Equity Distribution Agreement). |
| 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.
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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 U.S. Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission 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
October 19, 2020
Naked Brand Group Limited
c/o Bendon Limited
1/23 Court Road
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 issuance and sale by the Company of up to $200,000,000 of the Company’s (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.
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
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Tel: +61 2 9251 4100 Fax: +61 2 9240 9821 www.bdo.com.au |
Level 11, 1 Margaret St Sydney NSW 2000 Australia |
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 8, 2020, relating to the consolidated financial statements and schedules of Naked Brand Group Limited, appearing in the Company’s Form 20-F, for the year ended January 31, 2020.
We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
| BDO Audit Pty Ltd | |
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| Tim Aman | |
| Director |
Sydney, Australia
October 19, 2020
BDO Audit Pty Ltd ABN 33 134 022 870 is a member of a national association of independent entities which are all members of BDO Australia Ltd ABN 77 050 110 275, an Australian company limited by guarantee. BDO Audit Pty Ltd and BDO Australia Ltd are members of BDO International Ltd, a UK company limited by guarantee, and form part of the international BDO network of independent member firms.