ClearSign Technologies Corp S-3, filed Jul 1, 2022
ClearSign Technologies Corp (CLIR)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 1, 2022
Registration No. ________
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CLEARSIGN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Washington | 3823 | 26-2056298 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (Primary Standard Industrial | (I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) | Classification Code Number) | Identification No.) |
8023 East 63rd Place, Suite 101
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133
(206) 673-4848
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Colin James Deller
Chief Executive Officer
ClearSign Technologies Corporation
8023 East 63rd Place, Suite 101
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133
(206) 673-4848
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With Copies to:
Blake Baron, Esq.
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP
437 Madison Avenue, 25th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Telephone: (917) 546-7709
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement, as determined by market conditions and other factors.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ |
| Accelerated filer ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer ☒ |
| Smaller reporting company ☒ Emerging growth company ☐ |
The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the 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 $50,000,000 of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and/or units consisting of some or all of these securities; and |
| ● | a sales agreement prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $8,800,000 of our common stock that may be issued and sold under a sales agreement with Virtu Americas LLC (“Virtu”). As of July 1, 2022, we have sold 1,594,285 shares of our common stock for gross proceeds of $6,122,650 under the sales agreement pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-232402). |
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus. The sales agreement prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus. The $8,800,000 of common stock that may be offered, issued and sold under the sales agreement prospectus is included in the $50,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us under the base prospectus.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the Securities and Exchange Commission declares our registration statement effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion, dated July 1, 2022
PROSPECTUS
$50,000,000
Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Units
Subscription Rights
By this prospectus and an accompanying prospectus supplement, we may from time to time offer and sell, in one or more offerings, up to $50,000,000 in any combination of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, units, or subscription rights.
We will provide you with more specific terms of the securities offered by us in one or more supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.
We may offer these securities from time to time in amounts, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the time of offering. We may offer and sell these securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to investors, on a continuous or delayed basis.
The supplements to this prospectus will provide the specific terms of the plan of distribution. The price to the public of the securities we offer and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CLIR”. On June 28, 2022, the closing price of our common stock as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market was $1.23 per share.
The aggregate market value of shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates, as of the date hereof pursuant to General Instruction of I.B.6 of Form S-3 is $42,332,386, which was calculated based on 30,022,969 shares of our common stock outstanding held by non-affiliates and at a price of $1.41 per share, the closing price of our common stock on May 4, 2022. During the 12 calendar month period that ends on, and includes, the date of this prospectus, we have offered or sold $13,446,460 of securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3, which includes $8.8 million of our shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the At-the-Market Sales Agreement we previously entered into with Virtu Americas LLC.
An investment in our securities may be considered speculative and involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of a substantial loss of your investment. See “Risk Factors” on page 7 for more information on the risks you should consider before buying our securities. An investment in our securities is not suitable for all investors.
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. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2022
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time we offer securities for sale, we will provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of that offering. Any prospectus supplement may also add or update information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.”
The registration statement that contains this prospectus (including the exhibits thereto) contains additional important information about us and the securities we may offer under this prospectus. Specifically, we have filed certain legal documents that establish the terms of the securities offered by this prospectus as exhibits to the registration statement. We will file certain other legal documents that establish the terms of the securities offered by this prospectus as exhibits to reports we file with the SEC. You may obtain copies of the registration statement and the other reports and documents referenced herein as 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 in any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making offers to sell or solicitations to buy the securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized 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 not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as the information we file or previously filed with the SEC that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, is accurate as of any date other than the date of such document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “ClearSign,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” refer to ClearSign Technologies Corporation and its subsidiary, ClearSign Asia Limited.
MARKET, INDUSTRY AND OTHER DATA
This prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference, contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business, and the markets for certain products and services, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets and their projected growth rates. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections or similar methodologies is based on a number of assumptions and is inherently subject to uncertainties, including those described in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus and documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. You are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates, projections and other information.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Forward-looking statements in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement include, without limitation, statements related to our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.
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Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
| ● | our limited cash, history of losses, and our expectation that we will continue to experience operating losses and negative cash flows in the near future; |
| ● | our limited operating history; |
| ● | emerging competition and advancing technology in our industry that may outpace our technology; |
| ● | changes in government regulations that could substantially reduce, or even eliminate, the need for our technology; |
| ● | customer demand for the products and services we develop; |
| ● | the impact of competitive or alternative products, technologies, and pricing; |
| ● | our ability to manufacture any products we design; |
| ● | our doing business in China and related risks with respect to intellectual property protection, currency exchange, contract enforcement and rules on foreign investment; |
| ● | the impact of a cybersecurity incident or other technology disruption; |
| ● | our ability to protect our intellectual property; |
| ● | our ability to obtain adequate financing in the future; |
| ● | our ability to retain and hire personnel with the experience and talent to develop our products and business; |
| ● | general economic conditions and events and the impact they may have on us and our potential customers; |
| ● | lawsuits, investigations, and other claims by third parties or regulatory agencies, including but not limited to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Internal Revenue Service, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; |
| ● | the financial and operational impacts of the corona virus pandemic on our business and results of operations, including impacts on our day-to-day operations, collaborative arrangements, revenue and marketing efforts and suppliers; and |
| ● | our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items. |
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement.
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This is only a summary and may not contain all the information that is important to you. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and any other offering materials, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
About ClearSign Technologies Corporation
We design and develop technologies to significantly improve key performance characteristics of industrial combustion systems, including emission and operational performance, energy efficiency, safety and overall cost-effectiveness. We believe that our patented ClearSign Core™ technology can enhance the performance of combustion systems in a broad range of markets, including the energy (upstream oil production and down-stream refining), institutional, commercial and industrial boiler, chemical, and petrochemical industries. Our ClearSign Core technology, which is our primary technology, uses either a porous ceramic structure or metal flame holder device held at a distance from the injection planes of a burner to significantly reduce flame length and achieve low emissions without the need for external flue gas recirculation, selective catalytic reduction, or high excess air systems. To date, our operations have been funded primarily through sales of our equity securities. We have earned nominal revenue since inception in 2008.
Our combustion technology has been successfully deployed in commercial projects such as down-stream refining, upstream oil production and industrial boiler installations. These applications include both our process burner and boiler burner technologies. Our process burner technology is able to operate in high-intensity multiple burner industrial applications at sites that are required to meet low air pollutant emissions. Our boiler burner technology, which is designed to result in lower air pollutant emissions, has been deployed in the US and is currently undergoing commercialization in China.
We believe that combustion equipment utilizing ClearSign Core technology is more effective and cost-efficient than current industry-standard air pollution control technologies, which reduce NOx down to the levels required by new emission regulations. NOx is a regulated greenhouse gas pollutant comprised of nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide. These current technologies include selective catalytic reduction devices (SCRs), low- and ultra-low NOx burners, external flue gas recirculation systems and other similar technologies. Such air pollution control systems are widely used in places within our current target markets such as in petroleum refining and petrochemical process heaters, large-scale once through steam generators (OTSGs), enclosed flares, institutional commercial and industrial boilers and other similar equipment. We believe that our ClearSign Core technology can provide value to our customers not only by helping them meet current and possible future legislative mandates to reduce pollutant emissions, but also by improving operating efficiency and increasing overall return on investment.
We are also designing and commercializing a range of sensing products called the ClearSign EyeTM for two potential markets. The primary addressable market is similar to that of our ClearSign Core technology, although not limited to regions requiring emissions reduction. The flame sensing products are applicable to all installed burners that use a pilot for ignition, including in markets and regions beyond those where reducing emissions is a high priority. Like our burner technology, our burner sensing technology is being developed to provide convenient replacement and retrofit solutions for existing equipment as well as for inclusion in newly built equipment. We expect our flame sensing technology products to eventually replace existing flame sensing technology over time.
The secondary potential market for our sensing technology is outside of the typical combustion industry and includes transportation industries. While we believe the use of this technology in applications intended for transportation markets is proven, the development and refinement of specific products, obtaining the certifications required for commercial deployment and establishing an efficient manufacturing source and channels to market will take some time, and we cannot assure that these goals will be achieved. We believe
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that the opportunities for application of our sensing technology in the transportation market are global and of great value, but it will also take longer to commercialize products targeted for this market for the reasons stated above.
Overall, our sensing technologies could provide future diversification as well as the opportunity for continued business expansion and growth beyond the maturation of our combustion-related businesses.
Our Industry
The combustion and emissions control systems markets are significant, both with respect to the wide array of industries in which the systems are used and the amount of capital spent installing and upgrading the systems. Combustion systems are used to provide heat for many different industrial and commercial processes, including boilers, petrochemical process heaters, and waste disposal systems. In order to maximize energy efficiency while keeping pace with regulatory guidelines for air pollution emissions, operators of combustion systems are continually installing, maintaining, and upgrading a variety of costly process control, air pollution control and monitoring systems. Although we believe that there are many potential markets for our ClearSign Core technology, to date we have limited the introduction of this technology to petroleum refining process heaters, energy infrastructure process heaters, boilers for steam and hot water generation, boilers for building heating systems, and enclosed flares.
Recent Developments
On May 24, 2022, the Company announced that it was awarded a government grant through the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program with the Department of Energy.
The project and funding occur in phases, with an initial funding amount of approximately $250,000. The project will last six months and will start sometime in July 2022. If needed, and upon completion of Phase 1 of the project, the Company will be able to submit a follow-up proposal to continue the development work with a Phase 2 grant. The Phase 2 grant funding can be up to $1.6 million for a two-year duration.
Additional Information
For a description of our business, financial condition, results of operations and other important information regarding us, we refer you to our filings with the SEC incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. For instructions on how to find copies of these documents, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Corporate Information
Our facilities and executive offices are located at 8023 E. 63rd Pl, Suite 101, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133, and our telephone number is (206) 673-4848. We were incorporated in Washington on January 23, 2008. Additional information about us is available on our website at www.clearsign.com. The information contained on or that may be obtained from our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus. Our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, is currently traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “CLIR.”
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Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Please see the risk factors set forth below and in Part I, Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Part II, and other filings we make with the SEC, including our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Additional risk factors may be included in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of securities. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus. These risks could materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition and cause the value of our securities to decline.
Unless we state otherwise in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us under this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement for general corporate purposes. These purposes may include capital expenditures, acquisitions and additions to working capital. When a particular offering of securities is made, the prospectus supplement relating to that offering will set forth our intended use of the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we may invest the proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing instruments or other investment-grade securities.
With the exception of debt securities we may sell with no equity conversion feature and, therefore, no effect on dilution, we will set forth in a prospectus supplement the following information regarding any material dilution of the equity interests of investors purchasing securities sold by ClearSign in an offering under this prospectus:
| ● | the net tangible book value per share of our equity securities before and after the offering; |
| ● | the amount of the increase in such net tangible book value per share attributable to the cash payments made by purchases in the offering; and |
| ● | the amount of the immediate dilution from the public offering price which will be absorbed by such purchasers. |
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DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES THAT MAY BE OFFERED
Description of Debt Securities
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. The supplement will also indicate to what extent the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.
We may issue debt securities, either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations, issued in one or more series, and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We have summarized select portions of the indenture below. Please note, however, that the summary below is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. Capitalized terms used in the summary below and not defined herein have the meanings specified in the form of the indenture.
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our board of directors, in an officer’s certificate, or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series (including any pricing supplement or term sheet).
We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. The prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement or term sheet) relating to any series of debt securities being offered will set forth the aggregate principal amount and the other terms of the debt securities, including, if applicable:
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We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. Information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If the purchase price of any of the debt securities is denominated in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, then information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Transfer and Exchange
Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (which we refer to as “DTC”) or a nominee of DTC (which we refer to as a “book-entry debt security”), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (which is referred to as a “certificated debt security”), as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth under the heading “Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System” below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.
Certificated Debt Securities. Holders may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange may be required.
Holders may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, or any premium or interest on, certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.
Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC, and registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC.
Covenants
Any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control
Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions that may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) that could adversely affect holders of debt securities.
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Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person (a “successor person”) unless:
| ● | we are the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than us) is a corporation that is organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; and |
| ● | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Notwithstanding the above, our subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into, or transfer all or part of its properties to us. |
Events of Default
“Event of Default” means with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:
| ● | default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period; |
| ● | default in the payment of principal of any security of that series when it becomes due and payable, whether at stated maturity, upon redemption, upon purchase, upon acceleration or otherwise; |
| ● | default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee, or we and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture; |
| ● | certain voluntary or involuntary events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company; and |
| ● | any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain other of our indebtedness or indebtedness of our subsidiaries outstanding from time to time.
So long as any of the securities are outstanding, we will provide the trustee written notice of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default.
If an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. Such acceleration will not be effective until the earlier of (1) the acceleration of indebtedness under our senior secured credit facilities or (2) five business days after receipt by us of written notice of such acceleration, at which time the principal, premium, if any,
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interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding series of debt securities will become due and payable immediately. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities or the applicable series will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. Please refer to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.
The indenture will provide that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any cost, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in exercising such right of power. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, 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 trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.
No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:
Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium and any interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment.
The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of any series and if it is known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall mail to each holder of the debt securities of that series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any Default or Event of Default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if the trustee determines in good faith that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.
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Modification and Waiver
We and the trustee may modify, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder of any debt security:
| ● | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
| ● | to comply with covenants in the indenture described above under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”; |
| ● | to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities; |
| ● | to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities; |
| ● | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture; |
| ● | to add covenants for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any series or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company; |
| ● | to effect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of any series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide for or facilitate administration by more than one trustee; or |
We may also modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:
| ● | reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| ● | reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security; |
| ● | reduce the principal of or premium on or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities; |
| ● | reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity; |
| ● | waive a default in the payment of the principal, premium or interest on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
| ● | make the principal of or premium or interest on any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security; |
| ● | make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities (i) to receive payment of the principal, premium and interest on those debt securities, (ii) to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, or (iii) to consent to an amendment or waiver in accordance with the requirements of the debenture; or |
| ● | waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security. |
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Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive compliance by us with provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series, waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or any interest on any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.
Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances
Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.
This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.
Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:
| ● | we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants that may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and |
| ● | any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series (“covenant defeasance”). |
The conditions include:
| ● | depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; and |
| ● | delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal |
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| income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred. |
Covenant Defeasance and Events of Default. In the event we exercise our option to effect covenant defeasance with respect to any series of debt securities and the debt securities of that series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and/or U.S. government obligations or foreign government obligations on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from the Event of Default. However, we shall remain liable for those payments.
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees or Stockholders
None of our past, present or future directors, officers, employees or stockholders, as such, will have any liability for any of our obligations under the debt securities or the indenture or for any claim based on, or in respect or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a debt security, each holder waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release is part of the consideration for the issue of the debt securities. However, this waiver and release may not be effective to waive liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of New York.
The following summary of the rights of our common stock is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our articles of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which are included as exhibits to our registration statement on Form S-3, of which this prospectus forms a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
We have 64,500,000 shares of capital stock authorized under our articles of incorporation, consisting of 62,500,000 shares of common stock and 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock.
As of June 28, 2022, we had 36,346,131 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock are available for issuance without further action by our shareholders, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market or any other stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may become listed or traded. If the approval of our shareholders is not so required, our board of directors may determine not to seek shareholder approval.
Holders of our common stock are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for such purpose, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any then outstanding preferred stock. The shares of common stock are neither redeemable nor convertible. With the exception of one shareholder who, until June 30, 2027, at the latest, and subject to certain conditions, may have the right to participate in future offerings of our common stock, holders of common stock have no preemptive or subscription rights to purchase any of our securities.
Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each such share outstanding in the holder’s name. No holder of common stock is entitled to cumulate votes in voting for directors.
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In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive pro rata our assets which are legally available for distribution, after payments of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any holders of preferred stock then outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will also be fully paid and non-assessable.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CLIR”. On June 28, 2022, the last sale price of our common stock was $1.23 per share. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is VStock Transfer, LLC. Its address is 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York 11598, and its telephone number is (212) 828-8436.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Washington Law and Our Charter Documents
The following is a summary of certain provisions of Washington law, our articles of incorporation and our bylaws. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the corporate law of Washington and our articles of incorporation and bylaws.
Effect of Washington Anti-Takeover Statute. We are subject to Chapter 23B.19 of the Revised Code of Washington, an anti-takeover law (the “Anti-Takeover Statute”). In general, the Anti-Takeover Statute prohibits a target corporation from entering into a significant business transaction with an acquiring person for a period of five years following the acquiring person’s share acquisition unless
| ● | the share acquisition is exempt because it was inadvertently made and the acquiring person, as soon as practicable, divests himself of a sufficient amount of the voting shares of the target corporation so that he is no longer the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of voting shares entitled to cast votes comprising 10% or more of the voting power of the target corporation and would not have, at any time during the five year period preceding the announcement date of the significant business transaction have been an acquiring person but for the inadvertent acquisition, |
| ● | the significant business transaction or the purchase of shares made by the acquiring person is approved prior to the acquiring person’s share acquisition time by a majority of the members of the board of directors of the target corporation; or |
| ● | at or subsequent to the acquiring person’s share acquisition time, the significant business transaction is approved by a majority of the members of the board of directors of the target corporation and approved at an annual or special meeting of shareholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by the outstanding voting shares of the target corporation, except shares beneficially owned by or under the voting control of the acquiring person. |
The Anti-Takeover Statute generally defines an “acquiring person” as a person or group of persons, other than the target corporation or a subsidiary of the target corporation, who is the beneficial owner of voting shares entitled to cast votes comprising 10% or more of the voting power of the target corporation; provided, however, that the term “acquiring person” does not include a person who (a) beneficially owned voting shares entitled to cast votes comprising 10% or more of the voting power of the target corporation on March 23, 1988; (b) acquired its voting shares of the target corporation solely by gift, inheritance, or in a transaction in which no consideration is exchanged; (c) equals or exceeds the 10% threshold as a result of action taken solely by the target corporation, such as redemption of shares, unless that person, by his own action, acquires additional shares of the target corporation; (d) beneficially owned voting shares entitled to cast votes comprising 10% or more of the voting power of the target corporation prior to the time the target corporation had a class of voting shares registered with the SEC pursuant to section 12 or 15 of the Securities Exchange Act; or (e) beneficially owned voting shares entitled to cast votes comprising 10% or more of the voting power of the target corporation prior to the time the target corporation amended its articles of incorporation to provide that the corporation shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.
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The Anti-Takeover Statute defines a “significant business transaction” as:
| (b) | A sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer, or other disposition or encumbrance, whether in one transaction or a series of transactions, to or with an acquiring person or an affiliate or associate of an acquiring person of assets of a target corporation or a subsidiary of a target corporation (i) having an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all the assets, determined on a consolidated basis, of the target corporation, (ii) having an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the target corporation, or (iii) representing 5% or more of the earning power or net income, determined on a consolidated basis, of the target corporation; |
| (c) | The termination, while the corporation has an acquiring person and as a result of the acquiring person’s acquisition of 10% or more of the shares of the corporation, of 5% or more of the employees of the target corporation or its subsidiaries employed in this state, whether at one time or over the five-year period following the share acquisition time; |
| (d) | The issuance, transfer, or redemption by a target corporation or a subsidiary of a target corporation, whether in one transaction or a series of transactions, of shares or of options, warrants, or rights to acquire shares of a target corporation or a subsidiary of a target corporation to or beneficially owned by an acquiring person or an affiliate or associate of an acquiring person except pursuant to the exercise of warrants or rights to purchase shares offered, or a dividend, distribution, or redemption paid or made pro rata to, all shareholders or holders of options, warrants, or rights to acquire shares of the target corporation, and except for involuntary redemptions permitted by the target corporation’s charter or by the law of this state or the state of incorporation; |
| (e) | The liquidation or dissolution of a target corporation proposed by, or pursuant to an agreement, arrangement, or understanding, whether or not in writing, with an acquiring person or an affiliate or associate of an acquiring person; |
| (f) | A reclassification of securities, including, without limitation, any shares split, shares dividend, or other distribution of shares in respect of stock, or any reverse shares split, or recapitalization of a target corporation, or a merger or consolidation of a target corporation with a subsidiary of the target corporation, or any other transaction, whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an acquiring person, proposed by, or pursuant to an agreement, arrangement, or understanding, whether or not in writing, with an acquiring person or an affiliate or associate of an acquiring person, that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of a class or series of voting shares or securities convertible into voting shares of a target corporation or a subsidiary of the target corporation that is directly or indirectly owned by an acquiring person or an affiliate or associate of an acquiring person, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments; or |
| (g) | A receipt by an acquiring person or an affiliate or associate of an acquiring person of the benefit, directly or indirectly, except proportionately as a shareholder of a target corporation, of loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial assistance or tax credits or other tax advantages provided by or through a target corporation. |
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Finally, the Anti-Takeover Statute defines a “target corporation” as:
| (a) | Every domestic corporation, if: |
| (i) | The corporation has a class of voting shares registered with the SEC pursuant to Section 12 or 15 of the Securities Exchange Act; or |
| (b) | Every foreign corporation required to register to transact business in the State of Washington pursuant to Chapter 23B.15 and Article 5 of Chapter 23.95 of the Revised Code of Washington, if: |
| (i) | The corporation has a class of voting shares registered with the SEC pursuant to section 12 or 15 of the Securities Exchange Act; |
| (ii) | The corporation’s principal executive office is located in the state; |
Our Charter Documents. Our charter documents include provisions that may have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control or an unsolicited acquisition proposal that a shareholder might consider favorable, including a proposal that might result in the payment of a premium over the market price for the shares held by our shareholders. Certain of these provisions are summarized in the following paragraphs.
Effects of authorized but unissued common stock and blank check preferred stock. One of the effects of the existence of authorized but unissued common stock and undesignated preferred stock may be to enable our board of directors to make more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of our Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby to protect the continuity of management. If, in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, the board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal was not in our best interest, such shares could be issued by the board of directors without shareholder approval in one or more transactions that might prevent or render more difficult or costly the completion of the takeover transaction by diluting the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent shareholder group, by putting a substantial voting block in institutional or other hands that might undertake to support the position of the incumbent board of directors, by effecting an acquisition that might complicate or preclude the takeover, or otherwise.
In addition, our articles of incorporation grant our board of directors broad power to establish the rights and preferences of authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock. The issuance also may adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of
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those holders and may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of our Company.
Cumulative Voting. Our articles of incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors and accordingly do not allow holders of less than a majority of the stock to elect some directors.
Vacancies. Our bylaws provide that any vacancy occurring on our board of directors may be filled by the shareholders, by the board of directors or, if the directors in office constitute less than a quorum, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors.
Special Meeting of Shareholders. A special meeting of shareholders may only be called by the chairperson of the board of directors, the president or the board of directors or by holders of at least 20% of all the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at the special meeting.
Description of Preferred Stock
Our articles of incorporation permit us to issue up to 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and with rights and preferences that may be fixed or designated by our board of directors without any further action by our shareholders. We currently have no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Subject to the limitations prescribed in our articles of incorporation and under Washington law, our articles of incorporation authorize the board of directors, from time to time by resolution and without further shareholder action, to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock, in one or more series, and to fix the designation, limitations, voting powers, preferences and relative rights of the shares, including the right to convert the shares into shares of our common stock, and to fix the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof.
We may issue warrants for the purchase of any of our securities, including the securities we are registering. As explained below, each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the securities subject to the warrant at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determined as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Warrants may be issued separately or together with securities. The warrants will be issued pursuant to warrant agreements.
The particular terms of each issue of warrants and the warrant agreement relating to the warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:
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Holders of warrants will not be entitled, solely by virtue of being holders, to vote, to consent, to receive dividends, to receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of directors or any other matter, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as a holder of the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants.
In the case of debt warrants, the prospectus supplement will contain, where appropriate, the following additional information:
| ● | the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency and terms of the debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the debt warrants; and |
| ● | the designation, terms and amount of debt securities, if any, to be issued together with each of the debt warrants and the date, if any, after which the debt warrants and debt securities will be separately transferable. |
We may, from time to time, issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. A prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the units offered under that prospectus supplement, and any special considerations applicable to investing in those units. You must read the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable unit agreement for a full understanding of the specific terms of any units. We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of unit agreement, including a form of unit certificate, if any, that describes the terms of the series of units we are offering before the issuance of the related series of units. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and incorporated documents. The terms of any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.
We may issue units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, subscription rights, debt securities or any combination thereof. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time, or at any time before a specified date.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement and any incorporated documents the terms of the series of units, including the following:
| ● | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| ● | any unit agreement under which the units will be issued; and |
| ● | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer, or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units. |
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Common Stock,” “Description of Preferred Stock,” “Description of Warrants” and
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“Description of Subscription Rights” will apply to each unit and, as applicable, to each security included in each unit.
We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.
Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A unit agent may act as our agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, may enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.
We, the unit agent, and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purposes and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested.
Description of Subscription Rights
We may issue subscription rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities. These subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the shareholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any offering of subscription rights for which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following:
The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any subscription rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable subscription rights certificate, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer subscription rights.
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We may offer and sell the securities in any one or more of the following ways:
In addition, we may enter into option, share lending or other types of transactions that require us to deliver securities to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who will then resell or transfer the securities under this prospectus. We may also enter into hedging transactions with respect to our securities. For example, we may:
| ● | enter into transactions involving short sales of our securities by underwriters, brokers or dealers; |
| ● | sell securities short and deliver the securities to close out short positions; |
| ● | enter into option or other types of transactions that require the delivery of securities to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who will then resell or transfer the securities under this prospectus; or |
| ● | loan or pledge the securities to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who may sell the loaned securities or, in the event of default, sell the pledged securities. |
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of securities, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of securities. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will name any underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities. Any prospectus supplement will also set forth the terms of the offering, including:
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If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account. We may sell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
| ● | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| ● | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| ● | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; |
| ● | at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or |
| ● | at negotiated prices. |
Such sales may be effected:
| ● | in transactions on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale; |
| ● | in transactions in the over-the-counter market; |
| ● | in block transactions in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction, or in crosses, in which the same broker acts as an agent on both sides of the trade; |
| ● | through the writing of options; or |
| ● | through other types of transactions. |
Any securities covered by this prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters or dealers to purchase the securities offered will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters or dealers will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if any are purchased. Any public offering price and any discount or concession allowed or re-allowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers may be changed from time to time.
The securities may be sold directly by us or through agents as designated from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable to such agent will be set forth in, the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
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Offers to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus may be solicited, and sales of the securities may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. The terms of any offer made in this manner will be included in the prospectus supplement relating to the offer.
Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents used by us in any offering of securities under this prospectus may be customers of, engage in transactions with, and perform services for us or affiliates of ours in the ordinary course of business. Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to be reimbursed for certain expenses.
Subject to any restrictions relating to debt securities in bearer form, any securities initially sold outside the United States may be resold in the United States through underwriters, dealers or otherwise.
Any underwriters to which offered securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but those underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time.
The anticipated date of delivery of the securities offered by this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering.
Any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any securities such entity sells pursuant to this prospectus.
To comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the securities may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
There can be no assurance that we will sell all or any of the securities offered by this prospectus.
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP, New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus. Any underwriters will also be advised about the validity of the securities and other legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements of ClearSign Technologies Corporation as of December 31, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2021, incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of BPM LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements of ClearSign Technologies Corporation as of December 31, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2020, incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Gumbiner Savett Inc, an independent public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), with respect to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information with respect to us and the securities covered by this prospectus, please see the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. The SEC maintains an internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the website is www.sec.gov.
We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, we file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available for inspection and copying at the website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at www.clearsign.com. You may access our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus.
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INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC and applicable law permits us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information that we have or may in the future file with or furnish to the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information by referring you to those documents. You should read carefully the information incorporated herein by reference because it is an important part of this prospectus. We hereby incorporate by reference the following documents into this prospectus:
Additionally, all documents filed by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than any portions of filings that are furnished rather than filed pursuant to Items 2.02 and 7.01 of a Current Report on Form 8-K), after the date of this prospectus and before the termination or completion of this offering (including all such documents filed with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement) shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the respective dates of filing of such documents. Any information that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference as described above will automatically update and supersede any previous information that is part of this prospectus.
Upon written or oral request, we will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference, other than exhibits to those documents unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in the documents. Please send requests to ClearSign Technologies Corporation, 8023 E. 63rd Pl. Suite 101, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133, Attn: Brent Hinds, Telephone: (206) 673-4848.
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$50,000,000
Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Units
Subscription Rights
PROSPECTUS
The information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying 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 supplement and accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED July 1, 2022
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated , 2022)
Up to $8,800,000
Common Stock
We previously entered into an At-the-Market Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Virtu Americas LLC (“Virtu”) relating to shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. To date, we have sold 1,594,285 shares of our common stock for aggregate gross sale proceeds of $6,122,650 in accordance with the Sales Agreement. After giving effect to the terms of the Sales Agreement, we may, from time to time, offer and sell shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $8.8 million under the Sales Agreement, which amount is in addition to the shares of common stock that we have sold to date in accordance with the Sales Agreement. If the market value of shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates increases such that we may sell a greater amount of additional shares of common stock under the Sales Agreement and the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part, we will file another prospectus supplement prior to making such sales.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CLIR.” On June 28, 2022, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $1.23 per share.
Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be made in sales deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Subject to the terms of the Sales Agreement, Virtu is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amounts of securities but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and mutually agreed terms between Virtu and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The compensation to Virtu for sales of common stock sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be at a fixed commission rate of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds of any shares of common stock sold under the Sales Agreement. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, Virtu will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Virtu will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Virtu against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The aggregate market value of shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates as of the date hereof pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 is $42,332,386, which was calculated based on 30,022,969 shares of our common stock outstanding held by non-affiliates and at a price of $1.41 per share, the closing price of our common stock on May 4, 2022. During the 12 calendar month period that ends on, and includes, the date of this prospectus, we have offered or sold $13,446,460 of securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, which includes $8.8 million of our shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the Sales Agreement, which are covered by this prospectus supplement.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Please read the information contained in and incorporated by reference under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-9 of this prospectus supplement, under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of the accompanying prospectus, and the risk factors described in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as they may be amended, updated or modified periodically in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus supplement is , 2022.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
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S-12 | |
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We have not, and Virtu has not, authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus as if we had authorized it. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any applicable free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor does this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference and any applicable free writing prospectus is correct on any date after their respective dates, even though this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or an applicable free writing prospectus is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may have changed since those dates.
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a shelf registration process. The prospectus supplement describes the specific terms of this offering. The accompanying prospectus, includes the documents incorporated by reference, provides more general information. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. We urge you to carefully read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, before buying any of the securities being offered under this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying prospectus. To the extent that any statement that we make in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in the accompanying prospectus or any documents incorporated by reference therein filed prior to the date of this prospectus supplement, the statements made in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to modify or supersede those made in the accompanying prospectus and such documents incorporated by reference therein.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free-writing prospectus that we or the underwriters provide to you or incorporated herein by reference in this prospectus supplement and contained or incorporated therein by reference in the accompanying prospectus. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different, additional or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.
We are offering to sell the securities only in jurisdictions where such offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the securities in certain jurisdictions or to certain persons within such jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of the securities and the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.
You should assume that the information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the applicable document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus when making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents we have referred you to in the sections of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.”
The representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference herein or in the accompanying prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
S-2
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the information incorporated herein and therein by reference includes trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
In this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, the terms “ClearSign,” “ClearSign Technologies,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company” refer collectively to ClearSign Technologies Corporation and its subsidiary, ClearSign Asia Limited.
S-3
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. You can find many (but not all) of these statements by looking for words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “will” or other similar expressions in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. These statements may be found under the sections entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Our Business” and “Risk Factors” included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, as well as in this prospectus supplement generally. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions; prospective products, applications, customers, and technologies; future performance or results of any products; anticipated expenses; and future financial results. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
| ● | our limited cash, history of losses, and our expectation that we will continue to experience operating losses and negative cash flows in the near future; |
| ● | our limited operating history; |
| ● | emerging competition and advancing technology in our industry that may outpace our technology; |
| ● | changes in government regulations that could substantially reduce, or even eliminate, the need for our technology; |
| ● | customer demand for the products and services we develop; |
| ● | the impact of competitive or alternative products, technologies, and pricing; |
| ● | our ability to manufacture any products we design; |
| ● | our doing business in China and related risks with respect to intellectual property protection, currency exchange, contract enforcement and rules on foreign investment; |
| ● | the impact of a cybersecurity incident or other technology disruption; |
| ● | our ability to protect our intellectual property; |
| ● | our ability to obtain adequate financing in the future; |
| ● | our ability to retain and hire personnel with the experience and talent to develop our products and business; |
| ● | general economic conditions and events and the impact they may have on us and our potential customers; |
| ● | lawsuits, investigations, and other claims by third parties or regulatory agencies, including but not limited to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Internal Revenue Service, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; |
| ● | the financial and operational impacts of the corona virus pandemic on our business and results of operations, including impacts on our day-to-day operations, collaborative arrangements, revenue and marketing efforts and suppliers; and |
| ● | our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items. |
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The forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions and are made as of the date of this prospectus supplement. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by federal securities laws. Actual future results may vary materially as a result of various factors, including, without limitation, the risks outlined under the section of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” and matters described in this prospectus generally. In light of these risks and uncertainties, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus will in fact occur. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
Third-Party Data
We obtained statistical data, market data and other industry data and forecasts used throughout this prospectus from publicly available information. While we believe that the statistical data, market data and other industry data and forecasts are reliable and we are responsible for all of the disclosure in this prospectus supplement, we have not independently verified the data.
This summary highlights certain information about us, this offering and selected information contained elsewhere in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. For a more complete understanding of our company and this offering, we encourage you to read and consider carefully the more detailed information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes and the other information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the information referred to under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement beginning on page S[9], page[ 5] of the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated herein by reference.
Our Business
We design and develop technologies to significantly improve key performance characteristics of industrial combustion systems, including emission and operational performance, energy efficiency, safety and overall cost-effectiveness. We believe that our patented ClearSign Core™ technology can enhance the performance of combustion systems in a broad range of markets, including the energy (upstream oil production and down-stream refining), institutional, commercial and industrial boiler, chemical, and petrochemical industries. Our ClearSign Core technology, which is our primary technology, uses either a porous ceramic structure or metal flame holder device held at a distance from the injection planes of a burner to significantly reduce flame length and achieve low emissions without the need for external flue gas recirculation, selective catalytic reduction, or high excess air systems. To date, our operations have been funded primarily through sales of our equity securities. We have earned nominal revenue since inception in 2008.
Our combustion technology has been successfully deployed in commercial projects such as down-stream refining, upstream oil production and industrial boiler installations. These applications include both our process burner and boiler burner technologies. Our process burner technology is able to operate in high-intensity multiple burner industrial applications at sites that are required to meet low air pollutant emissions. Our boiler burner technology, which is designed to result in lower air pollutant emissions, has been deployed in the US and is currently undergoing commercialization in China.
We believe that combustion equipment utilizing ClearSign Core technology is more effective and cost-efficient than current industry-standard air pollution control technologies, which reduce NOx down to the
S-5
levels required by new emission regulations. NOx is a regulated greenhouse gas pollutant comprised of nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide. These current technologies include selective catalytic reduction devices (SCRs), low- and ultra-low NOx burners, external flue gas recirculation systems and other similar technologies. Such air pollution control systems are widely used in places within our current target markets such as in petroleum refining and petrochemical process heaters, large-scale once through steam generators (OTSGs), enclosed flares, institutional commercial and industrial boilers and other similar equipment. We believe that our ClearSign Core technology can provide value to our customers not only by helping them meet current and possible future legislative mandates to reduce pollutant emissions, but also by improving operating efficiency and increasing overall return on investment.
We are also designing and commercializing a range of sensing products called the ClearSign EyeTM for two potential markets. The primary addressable market is similar to that of our ClearSign Core technology, although not limited to regions requiring emissions reduction. The flame sensing products are applicable to all installed burners that use a pilot for ignition, including in markets and regions beyond those where reducing emissions is a high priority. Like our burner technology, our burner sensing technology is being developed to provide convenient replacement and retrofit solutions for existing equipment as well as for inclusion in newly built equipment. We expect our flame sensing technology products to eventually replace existing flame sensing technology over time.
The secondary potential market for our sensing technology is outside of the typical combustion industry and includes transportation industries. While we believe the use of this technology in applications intended for transportation markets is proven, the development and refinement of specific products, obtaining the certifications required for commercial deployment and establishing an efficient manufacturing source and channels to market will take some time, and we cannot assure that these goals will be achieved. We believe that the opportunities for application of our sensing technology in the transportation market are global and of great value, but it will also take longer to commercialize products targeted for this market for the reasons stated above.
Overall, our sensing technologies could provide future diversification as well as the opportunity for continued business expansion and growth beyond the maturation of our combustion-related businesses.
Our Industry
The combustion and emissions control systems markets are significant, both with respect to the wide array of industries in which the systems are used and the amount of capital spent installing and upgrading the systems. Combustion systems are used to provide heat for many different industrial and commercial processes, including boilers, petrochemical process heaters, and waste disposal systems. In order to maximize energy efficiency while keeping pace with regulatory guidelines for air pollution emissions, operators of combustion systems are continually installing, maintaining, and upgrading a variety of costly process control, air pollution control and monitoring systems. Although we believe that there are many potential markets for our ClearSign Core technology, to date we have limited the introduction of this technology to petroleum refining process heaters, energy infrastructure process heaters, boilers for steam and hot water generation, boilers for building heating systems, and enclosed flares.
Recent Developments
On May 24, 2022, the Company announced that it was awarded a government grant through the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program with the Department of Energy.
The project and funding occur in phases, with an initial funding amount of approximately $250,000. The project will last six months and will start sometime in July 2022. If needed, and upon completion of Phase 1 of the project, the Company will be able to submit a follow-up proposal to continue the development work with a Phase 2 grant. The Phase 2 grant funding can be up to $1.6 million for a two-year duration.
S-6
Additional Information
For a description of our business, financial condition, results of operations and other important information regarding us, we refer you to our filings with the SEC incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. For instructions on how to find copies of these documents, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
THE OFFERING
Common stock offered by us | Shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $8.8 million. |
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Common stock outstanding immediately after this offering | Up to 7,154,472 shares, assuming that we sell the maximum dollar value of shares of our common stock available to be sold in this offering at a price of $1.23 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 28, 2022. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the sales prices under this offering.(1)(2) |
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Plan of Distribution | “At the market offering” that may be made from time to time through our sales agent, Virtu. See “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus supplement. |
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Use of Proceeds | We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital, research and development, marketing and sales, and general corporate purposes. |
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Risk Factors | Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk, and the purchasers of our common stock may lose all or part of their investment. Please see “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-9 of this prospectus supplement, as well as the other information included in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, for a discussion of risks you should carefully consider before investing in our securities. |
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Nasdaq Capital Market symbol | “CLIR” |
(1) The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 32,154,746 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and excludes, as of that date:
| ● | 3,039,189 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options under our 2011 and 2021 Equity Incentive Plan at a weighted average exercise price of $2.03 per share; |
| ● | 341,382 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding inducement stock options granted outside of our Equity Incentive Plans at a weighted average exercise price of $1.80 per share; |
| ● | 267,738 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units granted under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan; |
| ● | 2,757,613 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and any other additional shares of our common stock that may become available under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan; and |
| ● | 207,576 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 Consultant Stock Plan. |
S-7
(2) In connection with a private placement of our common stock in July 2018, we granted to clirSPV LLC a right to purchase certain new equity securities that we sell for the purpose of raising capital, as described further under the section of this prospectus supplement titled “Plan of Distribution – clirSPV LLC Right to Purchase.” The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering excludes shares of common stock that may be purchased by clirSPV LLC pursuant to this purchase right.
Unless otherwise specifically stated, information throughout this prospectus supplement assumes that none of our outstanding options or warrants to purchase shares of our common stock are exercised
S-8
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein. For a discussion of additional risks associated with our business, our intellectual property, government regulation, our industry and an investment in our securities, see the section titled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K,, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as filed with the SEC on May 16, 2022, and any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. If any of the risks described below, or those incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer. In that case, the trading price of our common stock may decline and you may lose all or part of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Certain statements below are forward-looking statements. See the information included under the heading “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Related to this Offering
In making your investment decision, you should rely only on statements made in this prospectus supplement in determining whether to purchase our securities.
You should carefully evaluate all of the information in this prospectus supplement. We have in the past received, and may continue in the future to receive, media coverage, including coverage that is not directly attributable to statements made by our officers and employees, that incorrectly reports on statements made by our officers or employees or that is misleading as a result of omitting to state information provided by us or our officers or employees. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in determining whether to purchase our securities.
Management will have broad discretion as to the use of proceeds from this offering and we may use the net proceeds in ways with which you may disagree.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for working capital, research and development, marketing and sales, and general corporate purposes. We have not allocated specific amounts of the net proceeds from this offering for any of the foregoing purposes. Our management will have broad discretion and flexibility in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock or other securities. Accordingly, you will be relying on the judgment of our management on the use of the net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, delay the development of our products and cause the price of our common stock or other securities to decline.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
In order to raise additional capital, we may at any time, including during the pendency of this offering, offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per share in this offering. We may sell shares of our common stock or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is less than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by investors in this offering.
S-9
You will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of the common stock you purchase.
The offering price per share in this offering may exceed the net tangible book value per share of our common stock outstanding prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 7,154,472 shares of our common stock are sold at a price of $1.23 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 28, 2022, for aggregate gross proceeds of $8.8 million and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, you will experience immediate dilution of $0.78 per share, representing the difference between our as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2022 after giving effect to this offering and the assumed offering price. For a further description of the dilution that you will experience immediately after this offering, see “Dilution.”
Because we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any, will be your sole source of gain.
We plan to reinvest all of our earnings, to the extent we have earnings, in order to continue to develop our products, to market our products, to cover operating costs and to otherwise become and remain competitive. We do not plan to pay any cash dividends with respect to our securities in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on applicable law and then-existing conditions, including our financial condition, operating results, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant. See “Dividend Policy.” As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.
The actual number of shares of common stock we will issue under the Sales Agreement, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.
Subject to certain limitations in the Sales Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to Virtu at any time throughout the term of the Sales Agreement. The number of shares that are sold by Virtu after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period and limits we set with Virtu. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period, it is not possible at this stage to predict the number of shares that will be ultimately issued.
The common stock 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 shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices and numbers of shares sold, and there is no minimum or maximum sales price. Investors may experience a decline in the value of their shares as a result of share sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our common stock for working capital, research and development, marketing and sales, and general corporate purposes.
The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the factors described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds for other purposes, and our management will have significant flexibility in applying the net proceeds of this offering.
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Pending their use, we intend to invest the net proceeds of this offering in direct and guaranteed obligations of the United States, interest-bearing, investment-grade instruments or certificates of deposit.
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our shares of common stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our shares of common stock in the foreseeable future. Payment of cash dividends, if any, in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on applicable law and then-existing conditions, including our financial condition, operating results, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.
If you invest in our common stock, you will experience dilution to the extent of the difference between the price per share you pay in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
Our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2022 was approximately $6.8 million, or $0.21 per share of our common stock. Our net tangible book value per share represents our total tangible assets less total liabilities divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding on March 31, 2022.
Our pro forma net tangible book value as of March 31, 2022 was approximately $11.0 million, or $0.30 per share. Pro forma net tangible book value per share represents our total tangible assets less total liabilities divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding on March 31, 2022, as adjusted to reflect the issuance of 4,186,000 shares that were issued on June 1, 2022 pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain Underwriting Agreement, dated May 27, 2022, at a public offering price of $1.11 per share (the “Prior Offering”).
After giving effect to the sale of shares of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $8.8 million in this offering at an assumed offering price of $1.23 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 28, 2022, and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as-adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2022 would have been approximately $19.4 million, or $0.45 per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma as-adjusted net tangible book value per share of $0.15 to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in pro forma as-adjusted net tangible book value per share of $0.78 to new investors purchasing common stock in this offering.
We determine dilution by subtracting the pro forma as-adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the offering price per share of our common stock. The following table illustrates the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors:
Assumed public offering price per share |
| | |
| $ | 1.23 |
Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2022 | | $ | 0.21 | | | |
Pro forma increase in net tangible book value per share from the Prior Offering | | $ | 0.09 | | | |
Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering | | $ | 0.15 | | | |
Pro forma as-adjusted net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2022, after this offering | | | | | $ | 0.45 |
Dilution in pro forma as-adjusted net tangible book value per share to new investors | | | | | $ | 0.78 |
The table above assumes, for illustrative purposes, that an aggregate of 7,154,472 shares of our common stock are sold at a price of $1.23 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 28, 2022, for aggregate gross proceeds of $8.8 million. After giving effect to these transactions, we would have 43,495,218 shares of outstanding common stock including the shares
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issued as a result of the Prior Offering, but excluding any shares that may be issued to clirSPV LLC pursuant to its participation right.
To the extent there are sales of no less than 100,000 shares of Common Stock to a single investor in this offering, then clirSPV LLC may exercise its right to purchase shares of our common stock to maintain its 19.99% ownership percentage, which will cause you to experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of securities, the issuance of those securities could result in further dilution to our shareholders.
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering as reflected in the discussion and the table above is based on 32,154,746 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and excludes, as of that date:
| ● | 3,039,189 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options under our 2011 Equity Incentive Plan at a weighted average exercise price of $2.03 per share; |
| ● | 341,382 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options granted outside of our 2011 Equity Incentive Plan at a weighted average exercise price of $1.80 per share; |
| ● | 267,738 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting of outstanding restricted stock unites granted under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. |
| ● | 2,757,613 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and any other additional shares of our common stock that may become available under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan; and |
| ● | 207,576 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 Consultant Stock Plan. |
To the extent that options or warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2022 have been or are exercised, investors purchasing shares in this offering could experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or equity-based securities at prices per share that are less than the net tangible book value per share at the respective dates of those sales, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.
We previously entered into an At-the-Market Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Virtu Americas LLC (“Virtu”), pursuant to which we may issue and sell from time to time shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $8.8 million through Virtu, acting as our sales agent. This summary of the material provisions of the Sales Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions. A copy of the Sales Agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” below. As of July 1, 2022, we have sold 1,594,285 shares of our common stock for gross proceeds of $6,122,650 under the Sales Agreement.
Upon delivery of a placement notice and subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement, Virtu may sell our common stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the Nasdaq Capital Market or any other existing trading market for our common stock. We or Virtu may suspend the offering of our common stock upon notice and subject to other conditions.
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We will pay Virtu in cash, upon each sale of our common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement, a commission in an amount of up to 3.0% of the gross sales price per share for any shares of common stock sold through Virtu acting as our sales agent under the Sales Agreement. 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 have also agreed to reimburse Virtu for certain specified expenses, in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000, including the fees and disbursements of its legal counsel. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation and reimbursements payable to Virtu under the terms of the Sales Agreement, will be approximately $75,000.
Settlement for sales of common stock will occur on the second business day following the date on which any sales are made, or on another date that is agreed upon by us and Virtu in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. Sales of our common stock as contemplated in this prospectus supplement will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Virtu may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
Virtu will use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its sales and trading practices, to solicit offers to purchase shares of our common stock under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sales Agreement. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, Virtu will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of Virtu will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Virtu against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The offering of our common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the termination of the Sales Agreement as permitted therein. We and Virtu may each terminate the Sales Agreement at any time upon ten days’ prior notice.
We have agreed to indemnify Virtu and specified other persons against certain liabilities relating to or arising out of Virtu’s activities under the Sales Agreement and to contribute to payments that Virtu may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
Virtu 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, Virtu will not engage in any market making activities involving our common stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus supplement.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by Virtu, and Virtu may distribute this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus electronically.
clirSPV LLC Right to Purchase
In connection with a private placement of our common stock pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated July 12, 2018, we granted to clirSPV LLC (the “SPV”) a right to purchase certain new equity securities that we sell for the purpose of raising capital on terms and conditions no different from those offered to other purchasers (the “Participation Right”). If certain conditions are met, this participation right may be extended until June 30, 2027. The purpose of the Participation Right is to allow the SPV to keep its 19.99% ownership of our outstanding common stock (the “Percentage Ownership”). In no event may the SPV exercise the Participation Right to the extent it would cause the SPV to own 20% or more of the Company’s then outstanding shares of common stock or hold shares with 20% or more of the voting power of the Company. The Company and the SPV entered into a written waiver dated December 18, 2020, pursuant to which the SPV waived its right to exercise the Participation Right in connection with this offering. In lieu of participating in this offering, the Company and the SPV agreed that, for each sale of no less than 100,000 shares of our
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common stock to a single investor (each such sale, a “Block Trade”) made in this offering, the SPV may, for a period of 20 business days following such Block Trade, purchase from the Company at the price sold to such investor in the Block Trade, unregistered shares of our common stock up to a number of shares of common stock that will allow the SPV to maintain the Percentage Ownership.
Robert T. Hoffman Sr., a member of our board of directors, is the managing member of GPclirSPV LLC, which is the managing member of clirSPV LLC.
The validity of the issuance of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, LLP, New York, New York. Virtu Americas LLC is being represented in connection with this offering by Cooley LLP, New York, New York.
The consolidated financial statements of ClearSign Technologies Corporation as of December 31, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2021, incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of BPM LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements of ClearSign Technologies Corporation as of December 31, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2020, incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Gumbiner Savett Inc, an independent public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities covered by this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information with respect to us and the securities covered by this prospectus supplement, please see the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. The SEC maintains an internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the website is www.sec.gov.
We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, we file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available for inspection and copying at the website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at www.clearsign.com. You may access our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus supplement.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC and applicable law permits us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information that we have or may in the future file with or furnish to the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information by referring you to those documents. You should read carefully the information incorporated
S-14
herein by reference because it is an important part of this prospectus. We hereby incorporate by reference the following documents into this prospectus:
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022; |
| ● | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on May 16, 2022; |
| ● | all information in our definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 22, 2022 to the extent incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021; and |
| ● | with the exception of the portions of the following filings that are furnished rather than filed, our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 8, 2022, May 31, 2022, June 1, 2022 and June 7, 2022. |
Additionally, all documents filed by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than any portions of filings that are furnished rather than filed pursuant to Items 2.02 and 7.01 of a Current Report on Form 8-K), after the date of this prospectus and before the termination or completion of this offering (including all such documents filed with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement) shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the respective dates of filing of such documents. Any information that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference as described above will automatically update and supersede any previous information that is part of this prospectus.
Upon written or oral request, we will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference, other than exhibits to those documents unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in the documents. Please send requests to ClearSign Technologies Corporation, 8023 E. 63rd Pl. Suite 101, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133, Attn: Brent Hinds, Telephone: (206) 673-4848.
S-15
Up to $8,800,000
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
, 2022
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following statement sets forth the expenses and costs expected to be incurred by ClearSign Technologies Corporation in connection with the distribution of its securities being registered in this registration statement. All amounts are estimates except the SEC registration fee and FINRA filing fee.
SEC registration fee |
| $ | 4,635 |
|
FINRA filing fee | | $ | 8,000 | |
Transfer agent’s fees and expenses | | $ | | (1) |
Legal fees and expenses | | $ | | (1) |
Miscellaneous fees and expenses | | $ | | (1) |
Total | | $ | | (1) |
(1) These fees will be dependent on the type of securities offered and the number of offerings, and, therefore, cannot be estimated at this time. In accordance with Rule 430B, additional information regarding estimated fees and expenses will be provided at the time information as to an offering is included in a prospectus supplement.
Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors.
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of any statutes referred to below and the amended articles of incorporation of ClearSign Technologies Corporation, a Washington corporation.
The Company’s articles of incorporation provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by Washington law, the Company’s directors will not be liable to the Company or its shareholders for monetary damages. This provision, however, does not eliminate or limit liability for acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law by a director, for conduct violating Revised Code of Washington section 23B.08.310 (approval of an unlawful distribution) or for any transaction from which the director will personally receive a benefit in money, property, or services to which the director is not legally entitled. Pursuant to section 23B.08.520 of the Revised Code of Washington, because the Company’s articles of incorporation do not limit the obligation, the Company must indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which the director was a party because of being a director against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding.
The Company’s bylaws further provide that each person who was, is or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Company or was serving at the Company’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another entity, shall be indemnified and held harmless against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses actually and reasonably incurred or suffered in connection with the proceeding. This indemnification right continues even after the individual has ceased to be a director or officer or to serve at the Company’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another entity. However, if the person indemnified initiates the proceeding, he or she shall be entitled to indemnification only if the proceeding was authorized or ratified by the Company’s board of directors. No indemnification will be provided for acts or omissions finally adjudged to be intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, for conduct finally adjudged to be in violation of Revised Code of Washington section 23B.08.310, for any transaction with respect to which it was finally adjudged that the indemnitee personally received a benefit in money, property or services to which the indemnitee was not
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legally entitled or if the Company is otherwise prohibited by applicable law from paying indemnification. The Company must advance expenses to an indemnitee for an indemnification obligation so long as the Company receives an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnitee to repay all amounts so advanced if it is determined by a final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified.
The Company maintains liability insurance coverage for the activities undertaken by the officers and directors in their capacities as such.
The Company has entered into, and will enter into in the future, indemnification agreements with the individuals who serve as our officers and directors (the “indemnified party”). Pursuant to these agreements, the Company will indemnify an indemnified party who is made a party to, or threatened to be made party to, any proceeding by reason of the fact that the indemnified party is or was an officer or director, or is or was serving at the Company’s request as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another entity. The indemnification agreement requires the Company to indemnify the indemnified party against all expenses, judgments, fines and penalties actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of any such proceeding, subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement, including a determination that indemnification of a director indemnified party is permissible because the director has met the applicable Standard of Conduct, as defined in the agreement. If so requested by the indemnified party, the Company will advance (within 10 business days of such request) all Expenses, as defined in the agreement, to the indemnified party. If it is determined that the indemnified party is not permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, the Company will be entitled to be reimbursed by the indemnified party for all amounts theretofore paid. An indemnified party will not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the indemnification agreement in connection with any proceeding initiated by indemnified party against the Company or any director or officer of the Company unless (i) the Company has joined in or the Board has consented to the initiation of the proceeding, (ii) the proceeding is one to enforce indemnification rights under the indemnification agreement, or (iii) the proceeding is instituted after a Change in Control, as defined in the agreement, and independent counsel has approved its initiation.
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Item 16. Exhibits.
Exhibit |
| Description of Document |
1.1* | | Form of Underwriting Agreement |
1.2 | | |
3.1** | ||
3.2** | ||
4.1** | ||
4.2* | ||
4.3** | | Form of Debt Securities |
4.4** | | Form of Warrant (4) |
4.5** | | Form of Unit Agreement |
4.6** | | Form of Subscription Rights Agreement |
4.7** | | Form of Preferred Stock Certificate |
5.1* | | |
23.1* | Consent of BPM LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
23.2* | | Consent of Gumbiner Savett Inc., Independent Public Accounting Firm |
23.3 | | Consent of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement) |
24.1 | | Power of Attorney (included in signature page to the registration statement) |
25.1*** | | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Trustee for Form of Indenture |
107* | | |
| | |
* Filed herewith.
** To the extent applicable, to be filed by a post-effective amendment or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference herein.
*** To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder.
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Item 17. Undertakings.
| (a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a) (3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement. |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement: |
Provided however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act, to any purchaser: |
| (i) | If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B: |
| (A) | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
| (B) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act, as amended shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration |
II-4
| 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; or |
| (5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act, to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
| (b) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this 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. |
| (c) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question |
II-5
| of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
| (d) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertake 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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act. |
| (e) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering. |
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In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tulsa, State of Oklahoma, on July 1, 2022.
| CLEARSIGN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION | |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Colin James Deller |
| Colin James Deller, Chief Executive Officer | |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Colin James Deller and Brent Hinds, and each of them singly, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including any pre-effective or post-effective amendments) to this registration statement or any related registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection with the above premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Dated: July 1, 2022 | /s/ Colin James Deller |
| Colin James Deller |
| Chief Executive Officer |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
| |
Dated: July 1, 2022 | /s/ Brent Hinds |
| Brent Hinds |
| Vice President Finance & Controller |
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| |
Dated: July 1, 2022 | /s/ Robert T. Hoffman Sr. |
| Robert T. Hoffman Sr., Director |
| |
Dated: July 1, 2022 | /s/ Judith S. Schrecker |
| Judith S. Schrecker, Director |
| |
Dated: July 1, 2022 | /s/ Susanne L. Meline |
| Susanne L. Meline, Director |
| |
Dated: July 1, 2022 | /s/ Bruce A. Pate |
| Bruce A. Pate, Director |
II-7
Exhibit 4.2
FORM OF
CLEARSIGN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF [ ]
[Name of Trustee]
As
TRUSTEE
1
CLEARSIGN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939
and Indenture, dated as of
Section 310(a)(1) | | 7.10 |
(a)(2) | | 7.10 |
(a)(3) | | Not Applicable |
(a)(4) | | Not Applicable |
(a)(5) | | 7.10 |
(b) | | 7.10 |
Section 311(a) | | 7.11 |
(b) | | 7.11 |
(c) | | Not Applicable |
Section 312(a) | | 2.6 |
(b) | | 10.3 |
(c) | | 10.3 |
Section 313(a) | | 7.6 |
(b)(2) | | 7.6 |
(c) | | 7.6. 10.2 |
(d) | | 7.6 |
Section 314(a) | | 4.2, 10.5 |
(b) | | Not Applicable |
(c)(1) | | 10.4 |
(c)(2) | | 10.4 |
(c)(3) | | Not Applicable |
(d) | | Not Applicable |
(e) | | 10.5 |
(f) | | Not Applicable |
Section 315(a) | | 7.1 |
(b) | | 7.5 |
(c) | | 7.1 |
(d) | | 7.1 |
(e) | | 6.14 |
Section 316(a) | | 2.10 |
(a)(1)(A) | | 6.12 |
(a)(1)(B) | | 6.13 |
(b) | | 6.8 |
Section 317(a)(1) | | 6.3 |
(a)(2) | | 6.4 |
(b) | | 2.5 |
Section 318(a) | | 10.1 |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.
iv
Indenture dated as of between ClearSign Technologies Corporation, a Washington corporation (“Company”), and [Name of Trustee], a (“Trustee”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.
| Section 1.1 | Definitions. |
“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified herein or therein and which are owing to such Holders.
“Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a Legal Holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.
“Company” means the party named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.
“Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.
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“Company Request” means a written request signed in the name of the Company by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depository” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depository for such Series by the Company, which Depository shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depository” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depository with respect to the Securities of such Series.
“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“Dollars” and “$” means the currency of the United States of America.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of the United States of America.
“Foreign Government Obligations” means with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.
“GAAP” means (1) generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America which are in effect as of the date of determination or (2) if elected by the Company by written notice to the Trustee in connection with the delivery of financial statements and information, the accounting standards and interpretations (“IFRS”) adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board, as in effect on the first date of the period for which the Company is making such election; provided, that (a) any such election once made shall be irrevocable, (b) all financial statements and reports required to be provided after such election pursuant to this Indenture shall be prepared on the basis of IFRS, (c) from and after such election, all determinations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with IFRS, (d) in connection with the delivery of financial statements (x) for any of its first three financial quarters of any financial year, it shall restate its consolidated interim financial statements for such interim financial period and the comparable period in the prior year to the extent previously prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect as of the date of determination and (y) for delivery of audited annual financial information, it shall provide consolidated historical financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS for the prior most recent fiscal
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year to the extent previously prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect as of the date of determination.
“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depository for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depository or nominee.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.
“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“Interest” with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.
“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the President, any Executive Vice-President, Senior Vice-President or Vice-President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.
“Office’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Officer.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.
“Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office having responsibility for administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
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“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
“Significant Subsidiary” means (i) any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof, or (ii) any group of direct or indirect Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together as a group, would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof.
“Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security is due and payable.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified person:
(1) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof; and
(2) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which
(a) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise; and
(b) such person is a general partner or otherwise controls such entity.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.
“Trustee” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are direct obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall
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also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
| Section 1.2 | Other Definitions. |
Term | Defined in Section |
| |
“Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 |
“Custodian” | 6.1 |
“Event of Default” | 6.1 |
“Journal” | 10.15 |
“Judgment Currency” | 10.16 |
“Legal Holiday” | 10.7 |
“mandatory sinking fund payment” | 11.1 |
“Market Exchange Rate” | 10.15 |
“New York Banking Day” | 10.16 |
“optional sinking fund payment” | 11.1 |
“Paying Agent” | 2.4 |
“Registrar” | 2.4 |
“Required Currency” | 10.16 |
“Notice Agent” | 2.4 |
“successor person” | 5.1 |
| Section 1.3 | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. |
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
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“Commission” means the SEC.
“indenture securities” means the Securities.
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
| Section 1.4 | Rules of Construction. |
Unless the context otherwise requires:
| Section 2.1 | Issuable in Series. |
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
| Section 2.2 | Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities. |
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through
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2.2.23) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate:
| 2.2.1 | the title (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series) and ranking (including the terms of any subordination provisions) of the Series; |
| 2.2.2 | the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued; |
| 2.2.3 | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6); |
| 2.2.4 | the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable; |
| 2.2.5 | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
| 2.2.6 | the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means; |
| 2.2.7 | if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company; |
| 2.2.8 | the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions 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; |
| 2.2.9 | the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations; |
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| 2.2.10 | if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable; |
| 2.2.11 | the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities; |
| 2.2.12 | if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2; |
| 2.2.13 | the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be Dollars or any Foreign Currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency; |
| 2.2.14 | the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made; |
| 2.2.15 | if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined; |
| 2.2.16 | the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; |
| 2.2.17 | the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series; |
| 2.2.18 | any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2; |
| 2.2.19 | any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series; |
| 2.2.20 | any Depositories, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein; |
| 2.2.21 | the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any Securities of such Series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price, the conversion or exchange period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, at the option of the Holders thereof or at the option of the Company, |
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| the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion if such Series of Securities are redeemed; |
| 2.2.22 | whether the Securities of such Series will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and, if applicable, the subordination terms thereof; and |
| 2.2.23 | any other terms of the Securities of the Series (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series), including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that Series. |
All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate referred to above.
| Section 2.3 | Execution and Authentication. |
An Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual or facsimile signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.
Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officer’s Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents shall determine that such
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action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
| Section 2.4 | Registrar and Paying Agent. |
The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered (“Notice Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or additional notice agents 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 obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 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 name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional notice agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “Notice Agent” includes any additional notice agent. The Company or any of its Affiliates may serve as Registrar or Paying Agent.
The Company hereby appoints the Trustee the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.
| Section 2.5 | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. |
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the
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Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.
| Section 2.6 | Securityholder Lists. |
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
| Section 2.7 | Transfer and Exchange. |
Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
| Section 2.8 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. |
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
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If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity bond as may be required by each of them to hold itself and any of its agents harmless, then, in the absence of written notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
| Section 2.9 | Outstanding Securities. |
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
The Company may purchase or otherwise acquire the Securities, whether by open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.
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In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
| Section 2.10 | Treasury Securities. |
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
| Section 2.11 | Temporary Securities. |
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary securities upon a Company Order. Temporary securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary securities.
Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of Maturity in exchange for temporary securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
| Section 2.12 | Cancellation. |
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act and the Trustee) and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company upon the Company’s written request. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
| Section 2.13 | Defaulted Interest. |
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the special record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the special record date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed to the Trustee and to each
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Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
| Section 2.14 | Global Securities. |
| 2.14.1 | Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depository for such Global Security or Securities. |
| 2.14.2 | Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depository for such Security or its nominee only if (a) such Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depository registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (b) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depository shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms. |
Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository, by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.
| 2.14.3 | Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form: |
“This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.”
| 2.14.4 | Acts of Holders. The Depository, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, |
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| direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture. |
| 2.14.5 | Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof. |
| 2.14.6 | Consents, Declaration and Directions. The Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depository or by the applicable procedures of the Depository with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture. |
| Section 2.15 | CUSIP Numbers. |
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
| Section 3.1 | Notice to Trustee. |
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 45 days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).
| Section 3.2 | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed. |
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in any manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, including by lot or other method, unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements, subject, in the case of Global Securities, to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee shall make the selection from
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Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.2.10, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and the authorized integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.
| Section 3.3 | Notice of Redemption. |
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
| (a) | the redemption date; |
At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense, provided, however, that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least three days (unless a shorter time shall be acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the notice date, an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice.
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| Section 3.4 | Effect of Notice of Redemption. |
Once notice of redemption is mailed as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. Except as otherwise provided in the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate for a Series, a notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.
| Section 3.5 | Deposit of Redemption Price. |
On or before 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
| Section 3.6 | Securities Redeemed in Part. |
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
| Section 4.1 | Payment of Principal and Interest. |
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. On or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable payment date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of each Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
| Section 4.2 | SEC Reports. |
To the extent any Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC 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 SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a). Reports, information and documents filed with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee as of the time of such filing via EDGAR for purposes of this Section 4.2.
Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 4.2 are for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive or actual notice of any information contained therein or determinable from
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information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).
| Section 4.3 | Compliance Certificate. |
To the extent any Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which the Officer may have knowledge).
The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 Business Days of any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
| Section 4.4 | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. |
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
| Section 4.5 | Corporate Existence. |
Subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and rights (charter and statutory); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
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| Section 5.1 | Company May Consolidate or Merge, Etc. |
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:
| (a) | the Company is the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than the Company) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture; and |
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officer’s Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.
Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to the Company. Neither an Officer’s Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.
| Section 5.2 | Successor Corporation Substituted. |
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company in the case of a sale, conveyance or other disposition (other than a lease) shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
| Section 6.1 | Events of Default. |
“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
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| (a) | default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the 30th day of such period); or |
| (i) | is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, |
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The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
| Section 6.2 | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. |
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. Such acceleration will not be effective until the earlier of (1) the acceleration of indebtedness under the Company’s senior secured credit facilities or (2) five Business Days after receipt by the Company of written notice of such acceleration, at which time the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Securities of that Series will become due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
| Section 6.3 | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. |
The Company covenants that if
| (a) | default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or |
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then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
| Section 6.4 | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. |
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
| (a) | to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and |
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Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
| Section 6.5 | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. |
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
| Section 6.6 | Application of Money Collected. |
Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7; and
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the Company.
| Section 6.7 | Limitation on Suits. |
No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless
| (a) | such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series; |
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it being understood, intended and expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Security with every other Holder and the Trustee that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders of the applicable Series.
| Section 6.8 | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest. |
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, and interest, if any, on such Security on the Maturity of such Security , including the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
| Section 6.9 | Restoration of Rights and Remedies. |
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
| Section 6.10 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative. |
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
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| Section 6.11 | Delay or Omission Not Waiver. |
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
| Section 6.12 | Control by Holders. |
The Holders of at least majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that
| (a) | such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, |
| Section 6.13 | Waiver of Past Defaults. |
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
| Section 6.14 | Undertaking for Costs. |
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee
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for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Maturity of such Security, including the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).
| Section 7.1 | Duties of Trustee. |
| (a) | If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. |
| (i) | The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others. |
| (i) | This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section. |
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| Section 7.2 | Rights of Trustee. |
| (a) | The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. |
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| Section 7.3 | Individual Rights of Trustee. |
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
| Section 7.4 | Trustee’s Disclaimer. |
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the
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Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.
| Section 7.5 | Notice of Defaults. |
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.
| Section 7.6 | Reports by Trustee to Holders. |
Within 60 days after in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such _____________________, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing when Securities of any Series are listed on any national securities exchange.
| Section 7.7 | Compensation and Indemnity. |
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (including the cost of defending itself) against any cost, expense or liability, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder, unless and to the extent that the Company is materially prejudiced thereby. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have one separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
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The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through bad faith, willful misconduct or negligence.
To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.
| Section 7.8 | Replacement of Trustee. |
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
| (a) | the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10; |
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
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A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it for actions taken or omitted to be taken in accordance with its rights, powers and duties under this Indenture prior to such replacement.
| Section 7.9 | Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. |
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee, subject to Section 7.10.
| Section 7.10 | Eligibility; Disqualification. |
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b).
| Section 7.11 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. |
The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.
| Section 8.1 | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. |
This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
| (a) | either |
| (i) | all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or |
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and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.
| Section 8.2 | Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification. |
| (a) | Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.3 or 8.4. |
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| Section 8.3 | Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series. |
Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2, to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, execute instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
| (a) | the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series; |
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| Section 8.4 | Covenant Defeasance. |
Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company may omit to comply with respect to the Securities of any Series with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, and 5.1 as well as any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture hereto for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event specified in a supplemental
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indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 and designated as an Event of Default shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
| (a) | With reference to this Section 8.4, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants or investment bank expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due; |
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| Section 8.5 | Repayment to Company. |
Subject to applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.
| Section 8.6 | Reinstatement. |
If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money deposited with respect to Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.1 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series and under the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.1; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
| Section 9.1 | Without Consent of Holders. |
The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:
| (a) | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
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| Section 9.2 | With Consent of Holders. |
The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to mail or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
| Section 9.3 | Limitations. |
Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:
| (a) | reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
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| Section 9.4 | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. |
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
| Section 9.5 | Revocation and Effect of Consents. |
Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
| Section 9.6 | Notation on or Exchange of Securities. |
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
| Section 9.7 | Trustee Protected. |
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both complying with Section 10.4. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures upon delivery of an Officer’s Certificate or an
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Opinion of Counsel or both, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.
| Section 10.1 | Trust Indenture Act Controls. |
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.
| Section 10.2 | Notices. |
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested) to the others’ address:
if to the Company:
ClearSign Technologies Corporation
8023 E. 63rd Place, Suite 101
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (206) 673-4848
with a copy to:
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP
437 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn.: Blake Baron, Esq.
Telephone: (917) 546-7709
if to the Trustee:
[Name of Trustee]
[Address]
Attention: [ ]
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Securityholders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile or e-mail; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
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Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
In addition to the foregoing, the Trustee agrees to accept and act upon notice, instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The party providing electronic instructions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary.
| Section 10.3 | Communication by Holders with Other Holders. |
Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).
| Section 10.4 | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. |
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
| (a) | an Officer’s Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signer, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and |
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| Section 10.5 | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. |
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:
| (a) | a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; |
| Section 10.6 | Rules by Trustee and Agents. |
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
| Section 10.7 | Legal Holidays. |
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
| Section 10.8 | No Recourse Against Others. |
A director, officer, employee or stockholder (past or present), as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.
| Section 10.9 | Counterparts. |
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
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| Section 10.10 | Governing Laws. |
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
| Section 10.11 | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. |
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
| Section 10.12 | Successors. |
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
| Section 10.13 | Severability. |
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
| Section 10.14 | Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. |
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
| Section 10.15 | Securities in a Foreign Currency. |
Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in more than one currency, then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be determined by converting any such other currency into a currency that is designated upon issuance of any particular Series of Securities.
All decisions and determinations provided for in the preceding paragraph shall, in the absence of manifest error, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Trustee and all Holders.
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| Section 10.16 | Judgment Currency. |
Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, the Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final non-appealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final non-appealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
| Section 10.17 | Force Majeure. |
In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable best efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
| Section 11.1 | Applicability of Article. |
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series if so provided by the terms of such Securities pursuant to Section 2.2
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and except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such 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 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
| Section 11.2 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. |
The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officer’s Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the 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. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.
| Section 11.3 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. |
Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the
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optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.
| Section 12.1 | Additional Subordination Terms. |
Pursuant to Section 2.2, a supplemental indenture hereto pursuant to which Securities are issued or a Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate in which the terms of the Securities are set forth may set forth subordination provisions and terms.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| ClearSign Technologies Corporation By: |
| [Name of Trustee] By: |
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July 1, 2022
Board of Directors
ClearSign Technologies Corporation
8023 E. 63rd Place, Suite 101
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to ClearSign Technologies Corporation, a Washington corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on June 27, 2019 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the registration of (i) shares of its common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of its preferred stock, $0.0001 par value (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) debt securities (“Debt Securities”), (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”), (v) units consisting of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Debt Securities, or Rights (as defined herein) or any combination thereof (the “Units”), and (vi) subscription rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or other of its securities (“Rights”) with an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 (the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Units, Debt Securities and Rights are each referred to herein as an “Offered Security,” and collectively as the “Offered Securities”) for primary offerings.
We advise you that we have also examined (i) the sales agreement prospectus to be filed, together with the Registration Statement and Prospectus, with the Commission on July 1, 2022 (the “Sales Agreement Prospectus”) relating to the sale by the Company through Virtu Americas LLC, as the sales agent (the “Sales Agent”), from time to time of shares of Common Stock (the “Placement Shares”) having an aggregate maximum offering price of up to $8,800,000 pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Sales Agreement Prospectus for the sale of the Placement Shares included in the Registration Statement, and (ii) that certain At-the-Market Sales Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2020, by and between the Company and the Sales Agent (the “Sales Agreement”).
As counsel to the Company in connection with this opinion, we have examined such corporate records, documents, and instruments of the Company and reviewed such questions of law as we have deemed necessary for the purpose of rendering the opinions set forth herein and we have examined the proceedings taken by the Company relating to the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities. We have also examined the Registration Statement as filed with the Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
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We have examined such documents and considered such legal matters as we have deemed necessary and relevant as the basis for the opinion set forth below. With respect to such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as reproduced or certified copies, and the authenticity of the originals of those latter documents. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have, to the extent deemed appropriate, relied upon certain representations of certain officers and employees of the Company.
In expressing our opinions below, we have assumed, with your consent, that:
| (a) | the Registration Statement (including any and all required post-effective amendments thereto) will have become effective under the Act and will comply with all applicable laws; |
| (b) | the Registration Statement (including any and all required post-effective amendments thereto) will be effective under the Act and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Offered Securities are offered or sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement (including any and all required post-effective amendments thereto), the base prospectus included therein (the “Prospectus”) and the applicable prospectus supplement(s); |
| (c) | no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (including any and all required post-effective amendments thereto) will have been issued and remain in effect; |
| (d) | a prospectus supplement describing the Offered Securities and the offering thereof and complying with all applicable laws will have been prepared and filed with the Commission; |
| (e) | the Offered Securities will be offered and sold in the form and with the terms set forth in the Registration Statement (including any and all required post-effective amendments thereto), the Prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement(s) and the organizational documents of the Company, as applicable; |
| (f) | the Offered Securities will be offered and sold in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement (including any and all required post-effective amendments thereto), the Prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement(s); |
| (g) | the Company will have obtained any and all legally required consents, approvals, authorizations and other orders of the Commission and any and all other regulatory authorities and other third parties necessary to offer and sell the Offered Securities; |
| (h) | a definitive purchase, underwriting, sales or similar agreement (each a “Purchase Agreement”) with respect to any Offered Securities will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; and |
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14323643.3/46895-00001
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| (i) | any Offered Securities or other securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Offered Security will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange or exercise. |
Our opinions expressed below are subject to the qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with or effect of: (i) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally; (ii) general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; or (iii) public policy considerations that may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies.
We express no opinion as to (i) any provision providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy, (ii) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies or judicial relief, (iii) the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of any state to the offer or sale of the Offered Securities and (iv) the antifraud provisions of the securities or other laws of any jurisdiction.
Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof:
| 1. | The Company has the authority pursuant to its Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), to issue up to an aggregate of 62,500,000 shares of Common Stock. Upon adoption by the board of directors of the Company of a resolution in form and content as required by applicable law duly authorizing the issuance of shares of Common Stock (with such shares, together with all shares of Common Stock previously issued or reserved for issuance and not duly and lawfully retired, not exceeding an aggregate of 62,500,000 shares), and upon issuance and delivery of and payment of legal consideration in excess of the par value thereof in accordance with the applicable Purchase Agreement and all applicable law, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. |
| 2. | The Company has the authority pursuant to the Charter to issue up to an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock. When a series of Preferred Stock has been duly established in accordance with the terms of the Charter and applicable law, and upon adoption by the board of directors of the Company of a resolution in form and content as required by applicable law duly authorizing the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock (with such shares, together with all shares of Preferred Stock previously issued, designated or reserved for issuance and not duly and lawfully retired, not exceeding an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares) and upon issuance and delivery of and payment of legal consideration in excess of the par value thereof in accordance with the applicable Purchase Agreement and all applicable law (and assuming the satisfaction of the |
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conditions described in the applicable numbered paragraphs of this opinion letter with respect to our opinion regarding any Offered Securities into or for which such shares of Preferred Stock may be convertible, exchangeable or redeemable), such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
| 3. | When (a) a warrant agreement, if any, has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including, without limitation, the adoption by the board of directors of the Company of a resolution in form and content as required by applicable law duly authorizing the execution and delivery of such warrant agreement) and duly executed and delivered by the Company, (b) the specific terms of a particular issuance of Warrants have been duly established in accordance with such warrant agreement, if any, and all applicable law and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including, without limitation, the adoption by the board of directors of the Company of a resolution in form and content as required by applicable law duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of the Warrants), and (c) the Warrants have been duly executed, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with such warrant agreement, if any, the applicable Purchase Agreement and all applicable law (and assuming the satisfaction of the conditions described in the applicable numbered paragraphs of this opinion letter with respect to our opinion regarding any Offered Securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants), such Warrants will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
| 4. | When (a) a unit agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including, without limitation, the adoption by the board of directors of the Company of a resolution duly authorizing the execution and delivery of such unit agreement) and duly executed and delivered by the Company, (b) the specific terms of a particular issuance of the related Units have been duly established in accordance with such unit agreement and all applicable law and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including, without limitation, the adoption by the board of directors of the Company of a resolution in form and content as required by applicable law duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of the Units), and (c) such Units have been duly executed, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with such unit agreement, the applicable Purchase Agreement and all applicable law (and assuming the satisfaction of the conditions described in the applicable numbered paragraphs of this opinion letter with respect to our opinion regarding the Offered Securities underlying the Units), such Units will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
| 5. | When (a) an indenture has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including, without limitation, the adoption by the board of directors of the Company of a resolution in form and content as required by applicable law duly authorizing the execution and delivery of such indenture) and duly executed and delivered by the Company and the trustee thereunder, (b) the specific terms of a particular issuance of Debt Securities have been duly established in accordance with |
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such indenture, and all applicable law and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including, without limitation, the adoption by the board of directors of the Company of a resolution in form and content as required by applicable law duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of the Debt Securities), (c) the indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and (d) the Debt Securities have been duly executed, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with such indenture, the applicable Purchase Agreement and all applicable law (and assuming the satisfaction of the conditions described in the applicable numbered paragraphs of this opinion letter with respect to our opinion regarding any Offered Securities issuable upon exercise of the Debt Securities), such Debt Securities will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
| 6. | When (a) a rights agreement, if any, has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including, without limitation, the adoption by the board of directors of the Company of a resolution in form and content as required by applicable law duly authorizing the execution and delivery of such rights agreement) and duly executed and delivered by the Company, (b) the specific terms of a particular issuance of Rights have been duly established in accordance with such rights agreement, if any, and all applicable law and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including, without limitation, the adoption by the board of directors of the Company of a resolution in form and content as required by applicable law duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of the Rights), and (c) the Rights have been duly executed, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with such rights agreement, if any, the applicable Purchase Agreement and all applicable law (and assuming the satisfaction of the conditions described in the applicable numbered paragraphs of this opinion letter with respect to our opinion regarding any Offered Securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights), such Rights will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
| 7. | The Placement Shares, to be issued and sold by the Company, have been duly authorized for issuance and, when issued, sold and delivered in the manner of and for consideration (of not less than par value per share of the Common Stock) in the manner contemplated by the Sales Agreement and in accordance with the resolutions duly adopted and to be duly adopted by the Board with respect to the offer, sale and issuance of the Placement Shares, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. |
This opinion is opining upon and is limited to the current federal laws of the United States and the Revised Code of Washington as such laws presently exist and to the facts as they presently exist. We express no opinion with respect to the effect or applicability of the laws of any other jurisdiction. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion letter should the laws of such jurisdiction be changed after the date hereof by legislative action, judicial decision, or otherwise.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to the use of our name as the Company’s counsel and to all references made to us in the Registration
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Statement and in the prospectus forming a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do not 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. This opinion is given as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, and we are under no duty to update the opinions contained herein.
Sincerely,
/s/ Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP
MITCHELL SILBERBERG & KNUPP LLP
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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 31, 2022, relating to the consolidated financial statements of ClearSign Technologies Corporation, which appears in the Annual Report of ClearSign Technologies Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2021 on Form 10-K. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ BPM LLP
July 1, 2022
Santa Monica, California
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 31, 2021, relating to the consolidated financial statements of ClearSign Technologies Corporation, which appears in the Annual Report of ClearSign Technologies Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2021 on Form 10-K. Our report contains an emphasis of matter paragraph regarding the Company’s liquidity. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Gumbiner Savett Inc.
July 1, 2022
Santa Monica, California