STUDIO CITY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS Ltd F-3, filed Nov 30, 2021
STUDIO CITY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS Ltd (MSC)
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 30, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
STUDIO CITY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
| Cayman Islands | Not Applicable | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
36th Floor, The Centrium
60 Wyndham Street
Central
Hong Kong
+852 25983600
(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Cogency Global Inc.
122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10168
USA
+1 800 221-0102
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies to:
Tim Cruickshank
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
USA
(212) 446-4800
David T. Zhang
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
c/o 26th Floor, Gloucester Tower, The Landmark
15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
+852 3761-3300
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒
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If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
| Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of | ||||
| 1933. | Emerging growth company ☐ | |||
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act ☐
† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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| Title of each class of securities to be registered(1)(2) |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(4)(5) |
Amount of registration fee | ||
| Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share(3) |
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| Preferred shares |
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| Subscription rights(6) |
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| Warrants |
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| Debt Securities |
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| Total |
US$1,000,000,000 | US$92,700 | ||
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| (1) | Includes (i) securities initially offered and sold outside the United States that may be resold from time to time in the United States either as part of their distribution or within 40 days after the later of the effective date of this registration statement and the date the securities are first bona fide offered to the public and (ii) securities that may be purchased by the underwriters pursuant to an option to purchase additional securities. These securities are not being registered for the purposes of sales outside of the United States. |
| (2) | This registration statement covers an indeterminate number of securities of each identified class as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices not to exceed an aggregate initial offering price of US$1.0 billion. The securities being registered also include such indeterminate number of securities as may be issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities. |
| (3) | The Class A ordinary shares may be represented by the Registrant’s American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, each representing four Class A ordinary shares. ADSs issuable upon deposit of the Class A ordinary shares registered hereby have been registered under a separate registration statement on Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-227759). |
| (4) | The proposed maximum aggregate offering price of each class of securities will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of securities pursuant to the General Instruction II.C. of Form F-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. |
| (5) | The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act and reflects the maximum offering price of securities registered hereunder. |
| (6) | Rights evidencing the right to purchase Class A ordinary shares, including Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs. |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated November 30, 2021
PROSPECTUS
Studio City International Holdings Limited
Class A Ordinary Shares
Preferred Shares
Subscription Rights
Warrants
Debt Securities
We may offer and sell from time to time Class A ordinary shares, including Class A ordinary shares represented by American depositary shares, or ADSs, preferred shares, subscription rights, warrants and debt securities of Studio City International Holdings Limited in any combination from time to time in one or more offerings, at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The debt securities may consist of debentures, notes or other types of debt. The securities offered by this prospectus will have an aggregate offering price of up to US$1.0 billion. The preferred shares, subscription rights, warrants and debt securities may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our Class A ordinary shares, including Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer and the general manner in which they may be offered.
Each time we sell the securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering, the pricing, the manner of offering and the terms of the securities. The supplement may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
We may sell the securities independently or together with any other securities registered hereunder through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods, on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution.” If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our ADSs, each representing four Class A ordinary shares, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “MSC.”
Investing in our securities involves risks. See the “Risk Factors” section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus, the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus and the “Risk Factors,” beginning on page 9 of this prospectus to read about factors you should consider carefully before investing in our securities.
This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the disclosures in this prospectus, including any prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2021
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You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information About Us” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”
In this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires:
| • | “ADSs” refer to American depositary shares, each of which represents four Class A ordinary shares; |
| • | “board” and “board of directors” refer to the board of directors of our Company or a duly constituted committee thereof; |
| • | “China” and “PRC” refer to the People’s Republic of China, excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC (Hong Kong), the Macau Special Administrative Region of the PRC (Macau) and Taiwan from a geographical point of view; |
| • | “gaming machine” refers to slot machine and/or electronic gaming table; |
| • | “Gaming Operator” refers to Melco Resorts (Macau) Limited, or Melco Resorts Macau, a company incorporated under the laws of Macau that is a subsidiary of Melco Resorts, the holder of a subconcession under the Subconcession Contract and the operator of Studio City Casino. The equity interest of the Gaming Operator is 90% owned by Melco Resorts and 10% owned by Mr. Lawrence Ho, the managing director of the Gaming Operator; |
| • | “Macau” or “Macao” refers to the Macau Special Administrative Region of the PRC; |
| • | “mass market” refers to both table games and gaming machines played by mass market players primarily for cash stakes; |
| • | “MCO Cotai” refers to MCO Cotai Investments Limited (formerly known as MCE Cotai Investments Limited), a subsidiary of Melco Resorts and a shareholder of our Company; |
| • | “Melco International” refers to Melco International Development Limited, a Hong Kong-listed company; |
| • | “Melco Resorts” refers to Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited, a Cayman Islands company and with its American depositary shares listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market; |
| • | “MSC Cotai” refers to our subsidiary, MSC Cotai Limited, which is a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands with limited liability; |
| • | “remaining project” refers to the part of the Studio City project comprised of a gross floor area of approximately 250,000 square meters, which is required to be developed under the land concession contract; |
| • | “Renminbi” and “RMB” refer to the legal currency of China; |
| • | “shares” or “ordinary shares” refer to our Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share; |
| • | “Studio City” refers to a cinematically-themed integrated entertainment, retail and gaming resort in Cotai, an area of reclaimed land located between the islands of Taipa and Coloane in Macau; |
| • | “Studio City Casino” refers to the gaming areas being operated within Studio City; |
| • | “US$,” “U.S. Dollars,” “$” and “dollars” refer to the legal currency of the United States; and |
| • | “we,” “us,” “our company,” “our business,” “STUDIO CITY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED,” or “Studio City International” refer to, and similar references refer to, Studio City International Holdings Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries, including MSC Cotai. |
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process permitted under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell our Class A ordinary shares, preferred shares, subscription rights, warrants and debt securities or any combination of any of the foregoing having an aggregate initial offering price of up to US$1.0 billion from time to time in one or more offerings on a continuous or delayed basis. This prospectus only provides you with a summary description of these securities. Each time we sell the securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and the specific terms of that offering. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement. Before purchasing any of the securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information About Us” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”
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 will not make an offer to sell the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable supplement to this prospectus is accurate as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US
We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we will be required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules of the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders and Section 16 short swing profit reporting for our officers and directors and for holders of more than 10% of our Class A ordinary shares. All information filed with the SEC can be obtained over the internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You can request copies of these documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or visit the SEC website for further information.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement we have filed with the SEC. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement omit some information contained in the registration statement in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. You should review the information and exhibits in the registration statement for further information on us and the securities we are offering. Statements in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement concerning any document we filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or that we otherwise filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive and are qualified by reference to these filings. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements.
Our website address is www.studiocity-macau.com. The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.
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INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Each document incorporated by reference is current only as of the date of such document, and the incorporation by reference of such documents shall not create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date thereof or that the information contained therein is current as of any time subsequent to its date. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and should be read with the same care. When we update the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information contained in this prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:
| • | our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021, or our 2020 Annual Report; |
| • | our reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, furnished to the SEC on May 5, 2021, August 2, 2021, September 20, 2021 and November 30, 2021; |
| • | the description of our securities contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-38699) filed with the SEC on October 9, 2018 and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating the description; and |
| • | with respect to each offering of the securities under this prospectus, all our subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F and any report on Form 6-K that indicates that it is being incorporated by reference that we file or furnish with the SEC on or after the date on which the registration statement is first filed with the SEC and until the termination or completion of the offering by means of this prospectus. |
Our 2020 Annual Report contains a description of our business and audited consolidated financial statements with a report by our independent auditors. The consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:
Studio City International Holdings Limited
Attn: Company Secretary
36/F, The Centrium
60 Wyndham Street, Central
Hong Kong
comsec@sc-macau.com
Fax: +852-2537-3618
You should rely only on the information that we incorporate by reference or provide in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making any offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement, and the information incorporated by reference herein may contain forward-looking statements that relate to future events, including our future operating results and conditions, our prospects and our future financial performance and condition, all of which are largely based on our current expectations and projections. All statements other than statements of current or historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those listed under “Risk Factors,” that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Moreover, because we operate in a heavily regulated and evolving industry, may become highly leveraged and operate in Macau, a growth market with intense competition, new risk factors may emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of these factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement.
In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. We have based the forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to:
| • | our goals and strategies; |
| • | the material impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial results and liquidity, which could worsen and persist for an unknown duration; |
| • | the reduced access to our target markets due to travel restrictions, and the potential long-term impact on customer retention; |
| • | the expected growth of the gaming and leisure market in Macau and visitation in Macau; |
| • | restrictions or conditions on visitation by citizens of mainland China to Macau, including in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, with respect to which we are unable to predict when all, or any of, such travel restrictions will be eased, or the period of time required for tourism to return to pre-pandemic levels (if at all); |
| • | the impact on the travel and leisure industry from factors such as an outbreak of an infectious disease, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather patterns or natural disasters, military conflicts and any future security alerts and/or terrorist attacks or other acts of violence; |
| • | general domestic or global political and economic conditions, including in China and Hong Kong, which may impact levels of travel, leisure and consumer spending; |
| • | our ability to successfully operate Studio City; |
| • | our ability to obtain all required governmental approval, authorizations and licenses for the remaining project; |
| • | our ability to obtain adequate financing for the remaining project; |
| • | our ability to develop the remaining project in accordance with our business plan, completion time and within budget; |
| • | our compliance with conditions and covenants under the existing and future indebtedness; |
| • | construction cost estimates for the remaining project, including projected variances from budgeted costs; |
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| • | our ability to enter into definitive contracts with contractors with sufficient skill, financial strength and relevant experience for the construction of the remaining project; |
| • | capital and credit market volatility; |
| • | our ability to raise additional capital, if and when required; |
| • | increased competition from other casino hotel and resort projects in Macau and elsewhere in Asia, including the concessionaires (Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A., Wynn Resorts (Macau) S.A. and Galaxy) and subconcessionaires (including MGM Grand Paradise, S.A. and Venetian Macau Limited) in Macau; |
| • | government policies and regulation relating to the gaming industry, including gaming license approvals and the legalization of gaming in other jurisdictions, and leisure market in Macau; |
| • | the uncertainty of tourist behavior related to spending and vacationing at casino resorts in Macau; |
| • | fluctuations in occupancy rates and average daily room rates in Macau; |
| • | the liberalization of travel restrictions on PRC citizens and convertibility of the Renminbi; |
| • | the tightened control of certain cross-border fund transfers from the PRC; |
| • | the completion of infrastructure projects in Macau; |
| • | our ability to retain and increase our customers; |
| • | our ability to offer new services and attractions; |
| • | our future business development, financial condition and results of operations; |
| • | the expected growth in, market size of and trends in the market in Macau; |
| • | expected changes in our revenues, costs or expenditures; |
| • | our expectations involving the use of proceeds in this offering; |
| • | our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our brand and business; |
| • | our ability to continue to develop new technologies and/or upgrade our existing technologies; |
| • | cybersecurity risks including misappropriation of customer information or other breaches of information security; |
| • | our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; |
| • | growth of and trends of competition in the gaming and leisure market in Macau; |
| • | general economic and business conditions globally and in Macau; |
| • | our ability to comply with the New York Stock Exchange’s continued listing standards and maintain the listing of our ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange; and |
| • | other factors described under “Risk Factors.” |
The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, or the information incorporated by reference herein relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this prospectus. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we have incorporated by reference herein, including our 2020 Annual Report, and those documents we have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, with the SEC, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.
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This prospectus also contains statistical data and estimates that we obtained from industry publications and reports generated by government or third-party providers of market intelligence. Although we have not independently verified the data, we believe that the publications and reports are reliable. However, the statistical data and estimates in these publications and reports are based on a number of assumptions and if any one or more of the assumptions underlying the market data are later found to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions.
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Overview
Studio City is a world-class integrated resort located in Cotai, Macau and its principal operating activities are the provision of gaming related services and the hospitality business in Macau. Studio City Casino has 250 mass market gaming tables and, in 2019, approximately 947 gaming machines, which we believe provide higher margins and attractive long-term growth opportunities. The mass market focus of Studio City Casino is currently complemented with junket and premium direct VIP rolling chip operations, which include up to 45 tables authorized for VIP rolling chip operations. In 2020, excluding gaming tables and gaming machines that were not in operation due to government-mandated closures or social distancing measures in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak, Studio City Casino had an average of approximately 282 gaming tables and 586 gaming machines in operation. Our cinematically-themed integrated resort is designed to attract a wide range of customers by providing highly differentiated non-gaming attractions, including the world’s first figure-8 Ferris wheel, a deluxe night club and karaoke and a 5,000-seat live performance arena. Studio City features approximately 1,600 luxury hotel rooms, diverse food and beverage establishments and approximately 23,000 square meters of complementary retail space. Studio City was named Casino/Integrated Resort of the Year in 2016 by the International Gaming Awards.
Studio City is strategically located in Cotai, as one of the few dedicated Cotai hotel-casino resort stops on the Macau Light Rapid Transit Line, with an access bridge leading to Studio City.
Studio City Casino is operated by the Gaming Operator, one of the subsidiaries of Melco Resorts and a holder of a gaming subconcession, and we operate the non-gaming businesses of Studio City. We generated all of our revenues for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 from our operations in Macau, the sole market in which we compete to operate.
Our principal executive offices are located at 36th Floor, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong. Our telephone number at this address is 852-2598-3600 and our fax number is 852-2537-3618. Our website is www.studiocity-macau.com. The information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus.
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Investing in our securities described herein involves risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors and uncertainties described under the heading “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in our most recently filed annual report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated in this prospectus by reference, and any updates in any of our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act and, if applicable, in any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the information relating to us identified in “Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements,” before investing in any of the securities that may be offered or sold pursuant to this prospectus. These risks and uncertainties could materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition and cause the value of our securities to decline. Although we discuss key risks in our discussion of risk factors, new risks may emerge in the future, which may prove to be significant. Our subsequent filings with the SEC may contain amended and updated discussions of significant risks. We cannot predict future risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our financial performance.
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
Cayman Islands
We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability to take advantage of certain benefits associated with the Cayman Islands, such as:
| • | political and economic stability; |
| • | an effective judicial system; |
| • | a favorable tax system; |
| • | the absence of exchange control and currency restrictions on dividends; and |
| • | the availability of professional and support services. |
However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the Cayman Islands. These disadvantages include:
| • | the securities laws of the Cayman Islands are different from those of the United States and provide less protection to investors; and |
| • | Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States. |
Our constitutional documents do not contain provisions requiring that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our executive officers, directors and shareholders, be subject to arbitration.
Substantially all of our operations, including our administrative and corporate operations, are intended to be conducted in Macau and Hong Kong, and substantially all of our assets are expected to be located in Macau. A majority of our directors and officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons, or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against us or them, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. It may also be difficult for you to enforce judgments obtained in United States courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our executive officers and directors.
We have appointed Cogency Global Inc. as our agent to receive service of process with respect to any action brought against us in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with this offering under the federal securities laws of the United States or of any State in the United States or any action brought against us in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York in connection with this offering under the securities laws of the State of New York.
We have been advised by Harney Westwood & Riegels, our Cayman Islands counsel, that any final and conclusive monetary judgment of a competent foreign court for a definite sum may be the subject of enforcement proceedings in the courts of the Cayman Islands under the common law doctrine of obligation by action on the debt evidenced by the judgment of such competent foreign court. It is not guaranteed that this remedy would be available, but on general principles, such enforcement proceedings can be expected to be successful provided that: (i) the foreign court had jurisdiction in the matter and the parties subject to such judgment either submitted to such jurisdiction or were resident or carrying on business within such jurisdiction and were duly served with process; (ii) the judgment given by the foreign court was not in respect of penalties, taxes, fines or similar fiscal or revenue obligations; (iii) the judgment was not obtained by fraud; (iv) recognition or enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to the public policy of the Cayman Islands; and (v) the proceedings pursuant to which judgment was obtained were not contrary to natural justice.
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Macau
Manuela António—Lawyers and Notaries, our counsel as to Macau law, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of Macau would recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or our executive officers, directors or shareholders predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. Manuela António—Lawyers and Notaries has advised further that a final and conclusive monetary judgment for a definite sum obtained in a federal or state court in the United States would be treated by the courts of Macau as a cause of action in itself so that no retrial of the issues would be necessary, provided that: (i) such decision is final and the court had jurisdiction in the matter and the defendant either submitted to such jurisdiction or was resident or carrying on business within such jurisdiction and was duly served with process; (ii) due process was observed by such court, with equal treatment given to both parties to the action, and the defendant had the opportunity to submit a defense; (iii) the judgment given by such court was not in respect of penalties, taxes, fines or similar fiscal or tax revenue obligations; (iv) in obtaining judgment there was no fraud on the part of the person in whose favor judgment was given or on the part of the court; (v) recognition or enforcement of the judgment in Macau would not be contrary to public policy; (vi) the proceedings pursuant to which judgment was obtained were not contrary to natural justice; and (vii) any interest charged to the defendant does not exceed three times the official interest rate, which is currently 9.75% per annum, over the outstanding payment (whether of principal, interest, fees or other amounts) due.
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We may issue, offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, the following securities:
| • | Class A ordinary shares, including Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs; |
| • | preferred shares; |
| • | subscription rights; |
| • | warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares, preferred shares or ADSs; and |
| • | debt securities. |
The following is a description of the terms and provisions of our Class A ordinary shares, preferred shares, subscription rights, warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs), or preferred shares, and debt securities, which we may offer and sell using this prospectus. These summaries are not meant to be a complete description of each security. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of the preferred shares, warrants, subscription rights, in certain cases, the Class A ordinary shares (including ordinary shares represented by ADSs) and debt securities that may be offered under this prospectus. The terms of the offering of securities, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us, as applicable, will be contained in the prospectus supplement and other offering material relating to such offering. The supplement may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each security. You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
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We are a Cayman Islands exempted company and our affairs are governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or our memorandum and articles of association, and the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, or Companies Act below, and the common law of the Cayman Islands.
Our memorandum and articles of association authorize two classes of ordinary shares, the Class A ordinary shares and the Class B ordinary shares, in each case with a par value of $0.0001 each. Studio City International’s authorized share capital of US$200,000 is divided into 2,000,000,000 shares comprising of 1,927,488,240 Class A ordinary shares and 72,511,760 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of $0.0001 each.
Each Class A ordinary share and each Class B ordinary share entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by shareholders generally and holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all matters presented to the shareholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or the memorandum of association and articles of association. The Class A ordinary shares and the Class B ordinary shares have the same rights, except that holders of the Class B ordinary shares only have voting and no economic rights to receive dividends or distribution upon the liquidation or winding up of Studio City International.
In addition, pursuant to the terms of a participation agreement that was entered into by MSC Cotai, New Cotai and Studio City International, or the Participation Agreement, New Cotai has a non-voting, non-shareholding economic Participation Interest in MSC Cotai, which entitles New Cotai to receive from MSC Cotai an amount equal to a certain percentage of the MSC Cotai’s distribution, subject to adjustments, exceptions and conditions as set out in the Participation Agreement. The Participation Agreement also provides that New Cotai is entitled to exchange all or a portion of its Participation Interest for a number of Class A ordinary shares subject to adjustments, exceptions and conditions as set out in the Participation Agreement and a proportionate number of Class B ordinary shares will be deemed surrendered and automatically canceled for no consideration as set out in the Participation Agreement when New Cotai exchanges all or a portion of the Participation Interest for Class A ordinary shares. The following are summaries of material provisions of our memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Act, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares.
General
All of our outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Some of the ordinary shares are issued in registered form only with no share certificates. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their ordinary shares. Under Article 4 of our memorandum of association, the objects for which we were established are unrestricted and we have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law as provided by Section 7(4) of the Companies Act.
Dividends
The holders of our Class A ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to the Companies Act and our articles of association. Holders of the Class B ordinary shares do not have any right to receive dividends or distributions upon our liquidation or winding up.
Our articles of association require notice of any dividend that may have been declared to be given to each holder of our Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares and, pursuant to our articles of association, all dividends unclaimed for one year after having been declared may be forfeited by resolution of the directors for the benefit of the Company.
Voting Rights
Each of our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by shareholders generally. Holders of our Class A and Class B ordinary shares vote together as a
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single class on all matters presented to our shareholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or our memorandum of association and articles of association. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by our chairman or one or more shareholders present in person or by proxy entitled to vote and who together hold not less than 20% of the paid up voting share capital of our company.
A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of one or more shareholders who hold at least 50 percent of our ordinary shares at the meeting present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative. Shareholders’ meetings are held at least annually and may be convened by our board on its own initiative or, failing a request by our board, upon a request to the directors by shareholders holding in aggregate at least 20 percent of our ordinary shares. Advance notice of at least seven clear days is required for the convening of our annual general meeting and other shareholders meetings.
An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast in a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast attaching to the ordinary shares. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as changing our name or making changes to our memorandum and articles of association.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the restrictions in our memorandum and articles of association and the Participation Agreement, as applicable, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board.
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:
| • | the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; |
| • | the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares; |
| • | the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; or |
| • | in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four. |
Our board of directors is required to refuse to register any purported transfer of Class B ordinary shares made otherwise than in compliance with the Participation Agreement.
If our directors refuse to register a transfer they must, within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
Exchange Right of New Cotai
Subject to certain conditions, New Cotai and its permitted transferees thereof may exchange their Participation Interest in MSC Cotai for a number of Class A ordinary shares. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Pre-IPO Organizational Transactions—Participation Agreement” of our 2020 Annual Report. If New Cotai exchanges all or a portion of the Participation Interest for Class A ordinary shares, it will also be deemed to have surrendered an equal number of
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Class B ordinary shares, and any Class B ordinary shares so surrendered will be canceled for no consideration. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Pre-IPO Organizational Transactions—Participation Agreement” of our 2020 Annual Report.
Liquidation
On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of ordinary shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of Class A ordinary shares will be distributed among the holders of the Class A ordinary shares on a pro rata basis. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders proportionately. Holders of our Class B ordinary shares do not have any right to receive a distribution upon a liquidation or winding up of the Company.
Calls on Ordinary Shares and Forfeiture of Ordinary Shares
Our board may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their ordinary shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 clear days prior to the specified time and place of payment. The ordinary shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid on the specified time are subject to forfeiture. Shareholders are not liable for any capital calls by the Company except to the extent there is an amount unpaid on their shares.
Redemption of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, we may issue shares on terms that are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders, on such terms and in such manner as the directors may determine.
Prohibitions on the Receipt of Dividends, the Exercise of Voting or Other Rights or the Receipt of Other Remuneration
Our memorandum and articles of association prohibit anyone who is an unsuitable person or an affiliate of an unsuitable person from:
| • | receiving dividends or interest with regard to our shares; |
| • | exercising voting or other rights conferred by our shares; and |
| • | receiving any remuneration in any form from us or an affiliated company for services rendered or otherwise. |
Such unsuitable person or its affiliate must sell all of the shares, or allow us to redeem or repurchase the shares on such terms and manner as the directors may determine and agree with the shareholders, within such period of time as specified by a gaming authority.
These prohibitions commence on the date that a gaming authority serves notice of a determination of unsuitability or our board determines that a person or its affiliate is unsuitable and continue until the securities are owned or controlled by persons found suitable by a gaming authority or our board, as applicable, to own them. An “unsuitable person” is any person who is determined by a gaming authority to be unsuitable to own or control any of our shares or who causes us or any affiliated company to lose or to be threatened with the loss of any gaming license, or who, in the sole discretion of our board, is deemed likely to jeopardize our or any of our affiliates’ application for, receipt of approval for right to the use of, or entitlement to, any gaming license.
The terms “affiliated companies,” “gaming authority” and “person” have the meanings set forth in our articles of association.
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Redemption of Securities Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate
Our memorandum and articles of association provide that shares owned or controlled by an unsuitable person or an affiliate of an unsuitable person are redeemable by us, out of funds legally available for that redemption, by appropriate action of our board to the extent required by the gaming authorities making the determination of unsuitability or to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by our board having regard to relevant gaming laws. From and after the redemption date, the securities will not be considered outstanding and all rights of the unsuitable person or affiliate will cease, other than the right to receive the redemption price and the right to receive any dividends declared prior to any receipt of any written notice from a gaming authority declaring the suitable person to be an unsuitable person but not yet paid. The redemption price will be the price, if any, required to be paid by the gaming authority making the finding of unsuitability or, if the gaming authority does not require a price to be paid, the sum deemed to be the fair value of the securities by our board. The price for the shares will not exceed the closing price per share of the shares on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares are then listed on the trading date on the day before the redemption notice is given. If the shares are not then listed, the redemption price will not exceed the closing sales price of the shares as quoted on an automated quotation system, or if the closing price is not then reported, the mean between the bid and asked prices, as quoted by any other generally recognized reporting system. Our right of redemption is not exclusive of any other rights that we may have or later acquire under any agreement, its bylaws or otherwise. The redemption price may be paid in cash, by promissory note, or both, as required by the applicable gaming authority and, if not, as we elect.
Our memorandum and articles of association require any unsuitable person and any affiliate of an unsuitable person to indemnify us and our affiliated companies for any and all losses, costs and expenses, including legal fees, incurred by us and our affiliates as a result of, or arising out of, the unsuitable person’s or affiliate’s continuing ownership or control of shares, the neglect, refusal or other failure to comply with the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association relating to unsuitable persons, or failure to promptly divest itself of any shares in us when required by the relevant gaming laws or our memorandum and articles of association.
Variations of Rights of Shares
All or any of the rights attached to any class of shares may, subject to the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Act, be varied or abrogated either with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority of the issued shares of that class or with the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of that class present in person or by proxy at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.
Changes in Capital
We may from time to time by ordinary resolution (but subject to other provisions of our memorandum and of articles of association):
| • | increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution may prescribe; |
| • | consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing shares; |
| • | convert all or any of our paid-up shares into stock and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination; |
| • | sub-divide our existing shares, or any of them, into shares of a smaller amount provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share will be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; or |
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| • | cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so canceled. |
We may by special resolution (subject to our memorandum and articles of association) reduce our share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner authorized by law.
Accounts and Audit
No shareholder (other than a director) has any right to inspect any of our accounting record or book or document except as conferred by law or authorized by our board or our company by ordinary resolution of the shareholders.
Subject to compliance with all applicable laws, we may send to every person entitled to receive notices of our general meetings under the provisions of the articles of association a summary financial statement derived from our annual accounts and our board’s report.
Auditors shall be appointed and the terms and tenure of such appointment and their duties at all times regulated in accordance with the provisions of the articles of association. The remuneration of the auditors shall be fixed by our board.
Our financial statements shall be audited by the auditor in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The auditor shall make a written report thereon in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and the report of the auditor shall be submitted to the shareholders in general meeting. The generally accepted auditing standards referred to herein may be those of a country or jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands. If so, the financial statements and the report of the auditor should disclose this fact and name such country or jurisdiction.
Exempted Company
We are an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary resident company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:
| • | annual reporting requirements are minimal and consist mainly of a statement that the company has conducted its operations mainly outside of the Cayman Islands and has complied with the provisions of the Companies Act; |
| • | an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection; |
| • | an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting; |
| • | an exempted company may issue shares with or without par value; |
| • | an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance); |
| • | an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands; |
| • | an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and |
| • | an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company. |
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Differences in Corporate Law
The Companies Act is modeled after that of England and Wales but does not follow recent statutory enactments in England. In addition, the Companies Act differs from laws applicable to Delaware corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to Delaware corporations and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements
The Companies Act permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes:
| • | a “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company; and |
| • | a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company. |
In order to effect a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by:
| • | a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company; and |
| • | such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. |
A merger between a parent company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and its subsidiary or subsidiaries incorporated in the Cayman Islands does not require authorization by a resolution of shareholders of the constituent companies provided a copy of the plan of merger is given to every shareholder of each subsidiary company to be merged unless that shareholder agrees otherwise. For this purpose, a subsidiary is a company of which at least ninety percent (90%) of the issued shares entitled to vote are owned by the parent company.
The plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a declaration as to the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger and consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Dissenting shareholders have the right to be paid the fair value of their shares if they follow the required procedures, subject to certain exceptions. The fair value of the shares will be determined by the Cayman Islands court if it cannot be agreed among the parties. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.
In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands.
While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that:
| • | the statutory provisions as to the required majority vote have been met; |
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| • | the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question and the statutory majority are acting bona fide without coercion of the minority to promote interests adverse to those of the class; |
| • | the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his interest; and |
| • | the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act. |
When a take-over offer is made and accepted by holders of not less than 90% of the shares within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.
If the arrangement and reconstruction is thus approved, the dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
Shareholders’ Suits
Derivative actions have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts. In most cases, the company will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to it, and a claim against (for example) the company’s officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:
| • | a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority; |
| • | the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained; or |
| • | those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.” |
A shareholder may have a direct right of action against the company where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.
Directors’ Fiduciary Duties
Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components, the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director must act in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. A director must not use his or her corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, the director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.
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As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company, and therefore it is considered that he or she owes the following duties to the company: a duty to act bona fide in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a profit out of his or her position as director (unless the company permits him or her to do so), a duty not to put himself or herself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his or her personal interests or his or her duty to a third party and a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended. A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his or her duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his or her knowledge and experience. However, there are indications that the courts are moving towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care.
Under our memorandum and articles of association, directors who are in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed contract with our company must declare the nature of their interest at a meeting of the board of directors. Following such declaration, a director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract notwithstanding his or her interest.
Shareholder Action by Written Resolution
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent. Our memorandum and articles of association allow shareholders to act by written resolutions.
Cumulative Voting
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled for a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting interest with respect to electing such director.
As permitted under Cayman Islands law, our memorandum and articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting.
Removal of Directors
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation may be removed with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise.
Under our memorandum and articles of association, subject to the Shareholders’ Agreement, directors can be removed by special resolution of the shareholders.
Transactions with Interested Shareholders
The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware public corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date on which such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is one which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting stock within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested
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shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware public corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.
Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions entered into must be bona fide in the best interests of the company, for a proper corporate purpose and not with the effect of perpetrating a fraud on the minority shareholders.
Dissolution and Winding Up
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting interest of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. The Delaware General Corporation Law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board of directors.
Under our memorandum and articles of association, if our company is wound up, the liquidator of our company may distribute the assets with the sanction of an ordinary resolution of the shareholders and any other sanction required by law.
Variation of Rights of Shares
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise.
Under Cayman Islands law and our memorandum and articles of association, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, we may (subject to qualifications in the memorandum and articles of association) vary the rights attached to any class with the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the issued shares of the relevant class or with the sanction of a resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of such class by a majority of the votes cast at such a meeting.
Amendment of Governing Documents
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise.
Our memorandum and articles of association may be amended by a special resolution of shareholders.
Waiver of Certain Corporate Opportunities
Under our memorandum and articles of association, the Company has renounced any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, certain opportunities where such opportunities come into the possession of one of our directors other than in his or her capacity as a director (as more particularly described in our memorandum and articles of association). This is subject to applicable law and may be waived by the relevant director.
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Inspection of Books and Records
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, any shareholder of a corporation may for any proper purpose inspect or make copies of the corporation’s stock ledger, list of shareholders and other books and records.
Holders of our shares have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records (other than the memorandum and articles of association). However, we intend to provide our shareholders with annual reports containing audited financial statements.
Anti-takeover Provisions in our Memorandum and Articles of Association
Some provisions of our memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including a provision that authorizes our board of directors to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders.
Such shares could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue these preference shares, the price of our ordinary shares may fall and the voting and other rights of the holders of our ordinary shares may be materially adversely affected.
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our memorandum and articles of association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.
Rights of Non-resident or Foreign Shareholders
There are no limitations imposed by our memorandum and articles of association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
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DESCRIPTION OF CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES
We may issue our Class A ordinary shares either alone or underlying other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our Class A ordinary shares.
Holders of our Class A ordinary shares are entitled to certain rights and subject to certain conditions as set forth in our memorandum and articles of association and in the Companies Act. See “Description of Share Capital.”
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
American Depositary Shares
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary, will register and deliver the American Depositary Shares, also referred to as ADSs. Each ADS represents ownership of four Class A ordinary shares (or a right to receive four Class A ordinary shares), deposited with Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch, as custodian for the depositary. Each ADS also represents ownership of any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary’s corporate trust office at which the ADSs are administered is located at 1 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019, USA. The principal executive office of the depositary is located at 1 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019, USA.
The Direct Registration System, or DRS, is a system administered by The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the ADS holders entitled thereto.
We do not treat ADS holders as our shareholders and accordingly, you, as an ADS holder, will not have shareholder rights. Cayman Islands law governs shareholder rights. The depositary is the holder of the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. As a holder of ADSs, you have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary and you, as an ADS holder, and the beneficial owners of ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. The laws of the State of New York govern the deposit agreement and the ADSs.
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of American Depositary Receipt. For directions on how to obtain copies of those documents, see “Where You Can Find More Information About Us.”
Holding the ADSs
How will you hold your ADSs?
You may hold ADSs either (1) directly (a) by having an American Depositary Receipt, or ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (b) by holding ADSs in DRS, or (2) indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, you are an ADS holder. This description assumes you hold your ADSs directly. ADSs will be issued through DRS, unless you specifically request certificated ADRs. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
Dividends and Other Distributions
How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?
The depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on Class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities, after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of Class A ordinary shares your ADSs represent as of the record date (which will be as close as practicable to the record date for our Class A ordinary shares) set by the depositary with respect to the ADSs.
| • | Cash. The depositary will convert or cause to be converted any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the Class A ordinary shares or any net proceeds from the sale of any Class A ordinary shares, rights, securities or other entitlements under the terms of the deposit agreement into U.S. dollars if it can do so on a practicable basis, and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States and will distribute promptly the amount thus received. If the depositary shall determine in its judgment that such |
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| conversions or transfers are not practical or lawful or if any government approval or license is needed and cannot be obtained at a reasonable cost within a reasonable period or otherwise sought, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold or cause the custodian to hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid and such funds will be held for the respective accounts of the ADS holders. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest for the respective accounts of the ADS holders. |
| • | Before making a distribution, any taxes or other governmental charges, together with fees and expenses of the depositary, that must be paid, will be deducted. It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round down fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution. |
| • | Shares. For any Class A ordinary shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution, either (1) the depositary will distribute additional ADSs representing such Class A ordinary shares or (2) existing ADSs as of the applicable record date will represent rights and interests in the additional Class A ordinary shares distributed, to the extent reasonably practicable and permissible under law, in either case, net of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will try to sell Class A ordinary shares which would require it to deliver a fractional ADS and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed Class A ordinary shares sufficient to pay its fees and expenses, and any taxes and governmental charges, in connection with that distribution. |
| • | Elective Distributions in Cash or Shares. If we offer holders of our Class A ordinary shares the option to receive dividends in either cash or shares, the depositary, after consultation with us and having received timely notice as described in the deposit agreement of such elective distribution by us, has discretion to determine to what extent such elective distribution will be made available to you as a holder of the ADSs. We must timely first instruct the depositary to make such elective distribution available to you and furnish it with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. The depositary could decide it is not legal or reasonably practicable to make such elective distribution available to you. In such case, the depositary shall, on the basis of the same determination as is made in respect of the Class A ordinary shares for which no election is made, distribute either cash in the same way as it does in a cash distribution, or additional ADSs representing Class A ordinary shares in the same way as it does in a share distribution. The depositary is not obligated to make available to you a method to receive the elective dividend in shares rather than in ADSs. There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Class A ordinary shares. |
| • | Rights to Purchase Additional Shares. If we offer holders of our Class A ordinary shares any rights to subscribe for additional shares, the depositary shall having received timely notice as described in the deposit agreement of such distribution by us, consult with us, and we must determine whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make these rights available to you. We must first instruct the depositary to make such rights available to you and furnish the depositary with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. If the depositary decides it is not legal or reasonably practicable to make the rights available but that it is lawful and reasonably practicable to sell the rights, the depositary will endeavor to sell the rights and in a riskless principal capacity or otherwise, at such place and upon such terms (including public or private sale) as it may deem proper, distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary will allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them. |
If the depositary makes rights available to you, it will establish procedures to distribute such rights and enable you to exercise the rights upon your payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the
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depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. The depositary shall not be obliged to make available to you a method to exercise such rights to subscribe for Class A ordinary shares (rather than ADSs). U.S. securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the ADSs represented by shares purchased upon exercise of rights. For example, you may not be able to trade these ADSs freely in the United States. In this case, the depositary may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the ADSs described in this section except for changes needed to put the necessary restrictions in place.
There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Class A ordinary shares or be able to exercise such rights.
| • | Other Distributions. Subject to receipt of timely notice, as described in the deposit agreement, from us with the request to make any such distribution available to you, and provided the depositary has determined such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable and feasible and in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary will distribute to you anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it may deem practicable, upon your payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. If any of the conditions above are not met, the depositary will endeavor to sell, or cause to be sold, what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash; or, if it is unable to sell such property, the depositary may dispose of such property in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances for nominal or no consideration, such that you may have no rights to or arising from such property. |
The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADS holders. Except for our obligations under the amended Registration Rights Agreement which we entered into with New Cotai in connection with our initial public offering, we have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, shares, rights or anything else to ADS holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our shares or any value for them if we and/or the depositary determines that it is illegal or not practicable for us or the depositary to make them available to you.
Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation
How are ADSs issued?
The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposit Class A ordinary shares or evidence of rights to receive Class A ordinary shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto.
How do ADS holders cancel an American Depositary Share?
You may turn in your ADSs at the depositary’s corporate trust office or by providing appropriate instructions to your broker. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the Class A ordinary shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to you or a person you designate at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its corporate trust office, to the extent permitted by law.
How do ADS holders interchange between Certificated ADSs and Uncertificated ADSs?
You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send you a statement confirming that you are the owner of
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uncertificated ADSs. Alternatively, upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to you an ADR evidencing those ADSs.
Voting Rights
How do you vote?
You may instruct the depositary to vote the Class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities underlying your ADSs at any meeting at which you are entitled to vote pursuant to any applicable law, the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, and the provisions of or governing the deposited securities. Otherwise, you could exercise your right to vote directly if you withdraw the Class A ordinary shares. However, you may not know about the meeting sufficiently enough in advance to withdraw the Class A ordinary shares.
If we ask for your instructions and upon timely notice from us by regular, ordinary mail delivery, or by electronic transmission, as described in the deposit agreement, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming meeting at which you are entitled to vote pursuant to any applicable law, the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, and the provisions of or governing the deposited securities, and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. The materials will include or reproduce (a) such notice of meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies; (b) a statement that the ADS holders at the close of business on the ADS record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable law, the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, and the provisions of or governing the deposited securities, to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the Class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities represented by such holder’s ADSs; and (c) a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given to the depositary or deemed given in accordance with the second to last sentence of this paragraph if no instruction is received by the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us. Voting instructions may be given only in respect of a number of ADSs representing an integral number of Class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them in writing on or before the date specified. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to applicable law and the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, to vote or to have its agents vote the Class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities (in person or by proxy) as you instruct. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you instruct. If we timely requested the depositary to solicit your instructions but no instructions are received by the depositary from an owner with respect to any of the deposited securities represented by the ADSs of that owner on or before the date established by the depositary for such purpose, the depositary shall deem that owner to have instructed the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us with respect to such deposited securities, and the depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote such deposited securities. However, no such instruction shall be deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter if we inform the depositary we do not wish such proxy given, substantial opposition exists or the matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of the Class A ordinary shares.
We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. In addition, there can be no assurance that ADS holders and beneficial owners generally, or any holder or beneficial owner in particular, will be given the opportunity to vote or cause the custodian to vote on the same terms and conditions as the holders of our Class A ordinary shares.
The depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and you may have no recourse if the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs are not voted as you requested.
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In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the depositary to act, we will give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted in a timely manner.
Compliance with Regulations
Information Requests
Each ADS holder and beneficial owner shall (a) provide such information as we or the depositary may request pursuant to law, including, without limitation, relevant Cayman Islands law, any applicable law of the United States of America, our memorandum and articles of association, any resolutions of our board of directors adopted pursuant to such memorandum and articles of association, the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the Class A ordinary shares, ADSs or ADRs are listed or traded, or to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the ADSs or ADRs may be transferred, regarding the capacity in which they own or owned ADRs, the identity of any other persons then or previously interested in such ADRs and the nature of such interest, and any other applicable matters, and (b) be bound by and subject to applicable provisions of the laws of the Cayman Islands, our memorandum and articles of association, and the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the ADSs, ADRs or Class A ordinary shares are listed or traded, or pursuant to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the ADSs, ADRs or Class A ordinary shares may be transferred, to the same extent as if such ADS holder or beneficial owner held Class A ordinary shares directly, in each case irrespective of whether or not they are ADS holders or beneficial owners at the time such request is made.
Disclosure of Interests
Each ADS holder and beneficial owner shall comply with our requests pursuant to Cayman Islands law, the rules and requirements of the NYSE and any other stock exchange on which the Class A ordinary shares are, or will be, registered, traded or listed or our memorandum and articles of association, which requests are made to provide information, inter alia, as to the capacity in which such ADS holder or beneficial owner owns ADS and regarding the identity of any other person interested in such ADS and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or not they are ADS holders or beneficial owners at the time of such requests.
Fees and Expenses
As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following service fees to the depositary bank and certain taxes and governmental charges (in addition to any applicable fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges payable on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs):
| Service |
Fees | |
| • To any person to which ADSs are issued or to any person to which a distribution is made in respect of ADS distributions pursuant to stock dividends or other free distributions of stock, bonus distributions, stock splits or other distributions (except where converted to cash) |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS issued | |
| • Cancellation of ADSs, including the case of termination of the deposit agreement |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS canceled | |
| • Distribution of cash dividends |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
| • Distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends) and/or cash proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other entitlements |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
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| Service |
Fees | |
| • Distribution of ADSs pursuant to exercise of rights |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
| • Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
| • Depositary services |
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary bank | |
As an ADS holder, you will also be responsible for paying certain fees and expenses incurred by the depositary bank and certain taxes and governmental charges (in addition to any applicable fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges payable on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs) such as:
| • | Fees for the transfer and registration of Class A ordinary shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the Class A ordinary shares in the Cayman Islands (i.e., upon deposit and withdrawal of Class A ordinary shares). |
| • | Expenses incurred for converting foreign currency into U.S. dollars. |
| • | Expenses for cable, telex and fax transmissions and for delivery of securities. |
| • | Taxes and duties upon the transfer of securities, including any applicable stamp duties, any stock transfer charges or withholding taxes (i.e., when Class A ordinary shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit). |
| • | Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of Class A ordinary shares on deposit. |
| • | Fees and expenses incurred in connection with complying with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to Class A ordinary shares, deposited securities, ADSs and ADRs. |
| • | Any applicable fees and penalties thereon. |
The depositary fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of ADSs are typically paid to the depositary bank by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) receiving the newly issued ADSs from the depositary bank and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the ADSs to the depositary bank for cancellation. The brokers in turn charge these fees to their clients. Depositary fees payable in connection with distributions of cash or securities to ADS holders and the depositary services fee are charged by the depositary bank to the holders of record of ADSs as of the applicable ADS record date.
The depositary fees payable for cash distributions are generally deducted from the cash being distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. In the case of distributions other than cash (i.e., share dividends, rights), the depositary bank charges the applicable fee to the ADS record date holders concurrent with the distribution. In the case of ADSs registered in the name of the investor (whether certificated or uncertificated in direct registration), the depositary bank sends invoices to the applicable record date ADS holders. In the case of ADSs held in brokerage and custodian accounts (via DTC), the depositary bank generally collects its fees through the systems provided by DTC (whose nominee is the registered holder of the ADSs held in DTC) from the brokers and custodians holding ADSs in their DTC accounts. The brokers and custodians who hold their clients’ ADSs in DTC accounts in turn charge their clients’ accounts the amount of the fees paid to the depositary banks.
In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary bank may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder.
The depositary may make payments to us or reimburse us for certain costs and expenses, by making available a portion of the ADS fees collected in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary bank agree from time to time.
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Payment of Taxes
You will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable, or which become payable, on your ADSs or on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs. The depositary may refuse to register or transfer your ADSs or allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your ADSs until such taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your ADSs to pay any taxes owed and you will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to you any net proceeds, or send to you any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes. You agree to indemnify us, the depositary, the custodian and each of our and their respective agents, directors, employees and affiliates for, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained for you. Your obligations under this paragraph shall survive any transfer of ADRs, any surrender of ADRs and withdrawal of deposited securities or the termination of the deposit agreement.
Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers
| If we: |
Then: | |
| Change the nominal or par value of our Class A ordinary shares | The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities. | |
| Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities | Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities. | |
| Distribute securities on the Class A ordinary shares that are not distributed to you, or recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar action | The depositary may distribute some or all of the cash, shares or other securities it received. It may also deliver new ADSs or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities. | |
Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the form of ADR without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, including expenses incurred in connection with foreign exchange control regulations and other charges specifically payable by ADS holders under the deposit agreement, or materially prejudices a substantial existing right of ADS holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADSs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADSs, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended. If any new laws are adopted which would require the deposit agreement to be amended in order to comply therewith, we and the depositary may amend the deposit agreement in accordance with such laws and such amendment may become effective before notice thereof is given to ADS holders.
How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
The depositary will terminate the deposit agreement if we ask it to do so, in which case the depositary will give notice to you at least 90 days prior to termination. The depositary may also terminate the deposit agreement if the depositary has told us that it would like to resign, or if we have removed the depositary, and in either case we have not appointed a new depositary within 90 days. In either such case, the depositary must notify you at least 30 days before termination.
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After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else: collect distributions on the deposited securities, sell rights and other property and deliver Class A ordinary shares and other deposited securities upon cancellation of ADSs after payment of any fees, charges, taxes or other governmental charges. Six months or more after the date of termination, the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement, for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. It will not invest the money and has no liability for interest. After such sale, the depositary’s only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination, we shall be discharged from all obligations under the deposit agreement except for our obligations to the depositary thereunder.
Books of Depositary
The depositary will maintain ADS holder records at its depositary office. You may inspect such records at such office during regular business hours but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of business matters relating to the Company, the ADRs and the deposit agreement.
The depositary will maintain facilities in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York to record and process the issuance, cancellation, combination, split-up and transfer of ADRs.
These facilities may be closed at any time or from time to time when such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the depositary in connection with the performance of its duties under the deposit agreement or at our reasonable written request.
Limitations on Obligations and Liability
Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary and the Custodian; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs
The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary and the custodian. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. The depositary and the custodian:
| • | are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without gross negligence or willful misconduct; |
| • | are not liable if any of us or our respective controlling persons or agents are prevented or forbidden from, or subjected to any civil or criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the deposit agreement and any ADR, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any state thereof, the Cayman Islands or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal or civil penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of our memorandum and articles of association or any provision of or governing any deposited securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control (including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure); |
| • | are not liable by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the deposit agreement or in our memorandum and articles of association or provisions of or governing deposited securities; |
| • | are not liable for any action or inaction of the depositary, the custodian or us or their or our respective controlling persons or agents in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, any person presenting Class A ordinary shares for deposit or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information; |
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| • | are not liable for the inability of any holder of ADSs to benefit from any distribution on deposited securities that is not made available to holders of ADSs under the terms of the deposit agreement; |
| • | are not liable for any special, consequential, indirect or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement, or otherwise; |
| • | may rely upon any documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party; |
| • | disclaim any liability for any action or inaction or inaction of any of us or our respective controlling persons or agents in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Class A ordinary shares for deposit, holders and beneficial owners (or authorized representatives) of ADSs, or any person believed in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information; and |
| • | disclaim any liability for inability of any holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit made available to holders of deposited securities but not made available to holders of ADS. |
The depositary and any of its agents also disclaim any liability (i) for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote, the manner in which any vote is cast or the effect of any vote or failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable or for allowing any rights to lapse in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement, (ii) the failure or timeliness of any notice from us, the content of any information submitted to it by us for distribution to you or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, (iii) any investment risk associated with the acquisition of an interest in the deposited securities, the validity or worth of the deposited securities, the credit-worthiness of any third party, (iv) for any tax consequences that may result from ownership of ADSs, Class A ordinary shares or deposited securities, or (v) for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the depositary performed its obligations without gross negligence or willful misconduct while it acted as depositary.
In the deposit agreement, we and the depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances.
Jurisdiction and Arbitration
The laws of the State of New York govern the deposit agreement and the ADSs and we have agreed with the depositary that the federal or state courts in the City of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any dispute arising from or in connection with the deposit agreement and that the depositary will have the right to refer any claim or dispute arising from the relationship created by the deposit agreement to arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration provisions of the deposit agreement do not preclude you from pursuing claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act in federal or state courts.
Jury Trial Waiver
The deposit agreement provides that each party to the deposit agreement (including each holder, beneficial owner and holder of interests in the ADRs) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in any lawsuit or proceeding against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws. If we or the depositary opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable based on the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with the applicable law.
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Requirements for Depositary Actions
Before the depositary will issue, deliver or register a transfer of an ADS, split-up, subdivide or combine ADSs, make a distribution on an ADS, or permit withdrawal of Class A ordinary shares, the depositary may require:
| • | payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any Class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities and payment of the applicable fees, expenses and charges of the depositary; |
| • | satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matters contemplated in the deposit agreement; and |
| • | compliance with (A) any laws or governmental regulations relating to the execution and delivery of ADRs or ADSs or to the withdrawal or delivery of deposited securities and (B) such reasonable regulations and procedures as the depositary may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement and applicable laws, including presentation of transfer documents. |
The depositary may refuse to issue and deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs generally when the register of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we determine that it is necessary or advisable to do so.
Your Right to Receive the Shares Underlying Your ADSs
You have the right to cancel your ADSs and withdraw the underlying Class A ordinary shares at any time except:
| • | when temporary delays arise because: (1) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (2) the transfer of Class A ordinary shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (3) we are paying a dividend on our Class A ordinary shares; |
| • | when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges; |
| • | when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of Class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities; |
| • | other circumstances specifically contemplated by Section I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to time); or |
| • | for any other reason if the depositary or we determine, in good faith, that it is necessary or advisable to prohibit withdrawals. |
The depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the deposit agreement any Class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Class A ordinary shares.
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
Direct Registration System
In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the DRS and Profile Modification System, or Profile, will apply to uncertificated ADSs upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the ADS holders entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an ADS holder, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the ADS holder to register such transfer.
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED SHARES
Our board of directors has the authority, without shareholder approval, to classify or reclassify any unissued shares (including any unissued Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares) into preferred shares in one or more series out of our authorized share capital. Our board of directors may establish the number of shares to be included in each such series and may set the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications of the shares of a series of preferred shares. Accordingly, our board of directors is empowered, without shareholder approval, to issue preferred shares with dividend, liquidation, conversion, redemption voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of ordinary shares. The preferred shares could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of Studio City International. Although we do not currently intend to issue any preferred shares, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.
As of the date of this document, there are no outstanding shares of preferred stock of any series. The material terms of any series of preferred shares that we offer, together with any material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to such preferred shares, will be described in a prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
We may issue and offer subscription rights to purchase our Class A ordinary shares, including Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs, under this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add to, update or change the terms and conditions of the subscription rights as described in this prospectus. The following summary of certain provisions and any description in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to any accompanying prospectus supplement, the documents incorporated by reference therein and the provisions of the certificate evidencing the subscription rights that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such subscription rights.
General
Subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights. In connection with any subscription rights offering to our shareholders, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other purchase arrangement with one or more underwriters or investors pursuant to which such underwriters or investors will purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such subscription rights offering.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of subscription rights in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following:
| • | the title of such subscription rights; |
| • | the securities for which such subscription rights will be exercisable; |
| • | the exercise price for such subscription rights; |
| • | the number of such subscription rights issued to each shareholder; |
| • | the extent to which such subscription rights will be transferable; |
| • | if applicable, a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such subscription rights; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise such subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which such rights shall expire (subject to any extension); |
| • | the extent to which such subscription rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; |
| • | if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or other purchase arrangement that we may enter into in connection with the subscription rights offering; and |
| • | any other terms of such subscription rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such subscription rights. |
Exercise of Subscription Rights
Each subscription right will entitle the holder of the subscription right to purchase for cash such amount of securities at such exercise price as shall be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Subscription rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such subscription rights set forth in the prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised subscription rights will become void.
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Subscription rights may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and, if applicable, the subscription rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the office of the subscription rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will deliver, as soon as practicable, the Class A ordinary shares or those represented by ADSs purchasable upon such exercise. We may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting or other purchase arrangements, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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We may issue and offer warrants under the material terms and conditions described in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add to, update or change the terms and conditions of the warrants as described in this prospectus.
General
We may issue warrants to purchase our Class A ordinary shares, including those represented by our ADSs, or preferred shares. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from those securities. The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all of which will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants we are offering. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
Equity Warrants
Each equity warrant issued by us will entitle its holder to purchase the equity securities designated at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Equity warrants may be issued separately or together with equity securities.
The equity warrants are to be issued under equity warrant agreements to be entered into between us and one or more banks or trust companies, as equity warrant agent, as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus.
The particular terms of the equity warrants, the equity warrant agreements relating to the equity warrants and the equity warrant certificates representing the equity warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:
| • | the title of the equity warrants; |
| • | the initial offering price; |
| • | the aggregate amount of equity warrants and the aggregate amount of equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants; |
| • | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| • | if applicable, the designation and terms of the equity securities with which the equity warrants are issued, and the amount of equity warrants issued with each equity security; |
| • | the date, if any, on and after which the equity warrants and the related equity security will be separately transferable; |
| • | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the equity warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the equity warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| • | if applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations applicable to the equity warrants; |
| • | anti-dilution provisions of the equity warrants, if any; |
| • | redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the equity warrants; and |
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| • | any additional terms of the equity warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the equity warrants. |
Holders of equity 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 matters, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as a holder of the equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The debt securities will have the terms described in this prospectus unless the prospectus supplement describes different terms.
Each series of debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be named therein. The trustee will serve two principal roles:
| • | the trustee can enforce your rights against us if an Event of Default described below occurs; and |
| • | the trustee performs various administrative duties. |
The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to the debt securities and the indenture. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. When debt securities are offered in the future, the prospectus supplement will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the indenture.
General
The debt securities will be senior debt securities. The indenture does not limit the total principal amount of debt securities that we can issue. We may issue the debt securities in one or more series as we may authorize from time to time. In addition, we may “reopen” a previous issue of debt securities by issuing additional debt securities of that series.
A prospectus supplement and a supplemental indenture (or resolutions of our board of directors in lieu of a supplemental indenture) relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:
| • | the title of the debt securities; |
| • | any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities; |
| • | the dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities will be payable; |
| • | the interest rate (or method of determining the rate) that the debt securities will bear, the interest payment dates for the debt securities and the record dates for determination of the holders to whom interest is payable; |
| • | the place where we will pay principal, premium and interest on the debt securities; |
| • | any optional redemption periods and prices and any specific terms or conditions related to optional redemptions; |
| • | whether the debt securities are convertible or exchangeable into other securities; |
| • | any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities; |
| • | the denominations in which we will issue the debt securities, if other than $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| • | the manner in which we will determine the amounts of principal, premium or interest payments on the debt securities if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index; |
| • | the currency in which we will pay principal, premium and interest on the debt securities if other than the United States dollar; |
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| • | if other than the entire principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities (a) payable if the maturity of the debt securities is accelerated or (b) provable in bankruptcy; |
| • | any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; |
| • | any changes in or additions to the Events of Default (as defined below); |
| • | whether we will issue the debt securities in the form of global securities and the terms and conditions of the global securities; |
| • | any changes or additions to the covenants; and |
| • | any other terms of the debt securities. |
We may issue debt securities at a discount below their stated principal amount. Even if we do not issue the debt securities below their stated principal amount, for United States federal income tax purposes the debt securities may be deemed to have been issued with a discount because of certain interest payment characteristics. We will describe in a prospectus supplement the United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued at a discount or deemed to be issued at a discount. We will also describe in a prospectus supplement any special United States federal income tax considerations or other restrictions or terms applicable to the debt securities being issued, including, as applicable, securities issuable in bearer form, offered exclusively to foreigners or denominated in a foreign currency.
We may issue debt securities in fully registered form without coupons or in a form registered as to principal only with coupons or in bearer form with coupons. Unless specified in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be in fully registered form without coupons. In addition, we may issue debt securities in the form of one or more global securities as described below.
Registration, Transfer and Payment
Principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on fully registered securities will be payable at the place or places we designate for such purpose, or we may pay interest by check mailed to the persons in whose names the securities are registered at the close of business on the day or days specified in the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus. The principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities in other forms will be payable in the manner and at the place we designate as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
You may present fully registered securities for transfer or exchange at the corporate trust office of the trustee or any other office or agency we maintain for that purpose, without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or governmental charge incidental to the transfer or exchange. Provisions for the transfer or exchange of securities in other forms will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Global Securities
We may issue the debt securities in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities. A global security is a security, typically held by a depositary, that represents the beneficial interests of a number of purchasers of such security. We will deposit global securities with the depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive form, a global certificate may generally be transferred only as a whole to certain nominees of the depositary or to a successor depositary or nominee of a successor depositary.
We will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities in a prospectus supplement. We expect that the following provisions will generally apply to our depositary arrangements.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to “participants” or persons that may hold interests through participants. The term “participants” means institutions that have established accounts with
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the depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of a global security, and the deposit of the global security with or on behalf of the depositary, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of participants. The underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited. If we offer and sell the debt securities directly or through agents, either we or our agents will designate the accounts. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary and its participants. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities. Such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.
Principal of, any premium on and any interest payments on debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of the global security. We and the trustee will treat the depositary or its nominee as the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by a global security for all purposes, including for paying principal, premium and interest. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not:
| • | be entitled to have the debt securities represented by the global security registered in their names; |
| • | receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form; or |
| • | be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities. |
Therefore, we and the trustee do not have any direct responsibility or liability for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on any debt securities represented by a global security to owners of beneficial interests in the global security.
We expect that the depositary or its nominee, upon receipt of any payments, will on the same date credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the depositary’s or its nominee’s records. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interest in the global security will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street names” and will be the responsibility of these participants and will not be the responsibility of the depositary or its nominee, the trustee or us. We or the trustee are responsible only for paying principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, to the depositary or its nominee. The depositary or its nominee and the direct and indirect participants are responsible for disbursing these payments to the owners of beneficial interests in the global securities.
If the depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within ninety days, we will issue individual debt securities in exchange for the global security. In addition, we may at any time in our sole discretion determine not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by global securities and, in such event, will issue debt securities of such series in exchange for the global security.
Neither we, nor the trustee or any paying agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests. No such person will be liable for any delay by the depositary or any of its participants in identifying the owners of beneficial interests in a global security, and we, the trustee and any paying agent may conclusively rely on instructions from the depositary or its nominee for all purposes.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
The terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for ordinary shares or other of our securities will be detailed in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include
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provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at our option, and may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our ordinary shares or other of our securities to be received by the holders of the series of debt securities would be subject to adjustment.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
The indenture provides that, except as otherwise provided in any prospectus supplement, we may consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to another person, if among other things:
| • | the resulting, surviving or transferee person (if other than us) assumes all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture; and |
| • | we or such successor person is not immediately thereafter in default under the indenture. |
Upon the assumption our obligations by such a person upon the sale of all or substantially all the assets in compliance with the indenture, we shall be discharged from all obligations under the debt securities and the indenture. Although such transactions are permitted under the indenture, certain of the foregoing transactions could constitute a “change in control,” as described in any prospectus supplement, permitting each holder to require us to purchase the debt securities of such holder as described in any prospectus supplement.
Modification and Waiver
The indenture (including the terms and conditions of the debt securities) may be modified or amended by us and the trustee, with respect to any series of debt securities, without the consent of the holder of such series of debt securities, for the purposes of, among other things:
| • | adding to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities of such series; |
| • | surrendering any right or power conferred upon us in respect of such series; |
| • | providing for the assumption of our obligations to the holders of the debt securities of such series in the case of a permitted merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer or lease; |
| • | complying with the requirements of the SEC in connection with the registration of the debt securities of such series under the Securities Act and the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, provided that such modification or amendment does not, in the good faith opinion of our board of directors and the trustee, adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities of such series in any material respect; and |
| • | curing any ambiguity or correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained in the indenture; provided that such modification or amendment does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities of such series. |
Modifications and amendments to the indenture or to the terms and conditions of the debt securities of such series may also be made, and past defaults by us may be waived, either:
| • | with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount at maturity of the debt securities of such series at the time outstanding; or |
| • | by the adoption of a resolution at a meeting of holders by at least a majority in aggregate principal amount at maturity of the debt securities of such series represented at such meeting. |
However, no such modification, amendment or waiver may, without the written consent or the affirmative vote of the holder of each debt security so affected:
| • | change the stated maturity of such debt security; |
| • | reduce the principal amount at maturity, redemption price or purchase price on such debt security; |
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| • | change the currency of payment of such debt security or interest thereon; |
| • | reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount at maturity of any debt security outstanding necessary to modify or amend the indenture or to waive any past default; or |
| • | impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment with respect to such debt security. |
Events of Default
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture provides that the following are “Events of Default” with respect to any series of the debt securities issued thereunder:
| • | default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any debt security of such series when and as the same shall become due and payable; |
| • | default for 30 days in the payment of any installment of interest on any debt security of such series when and as the same shall become due and payable; |
| • | default in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund payment when the same shall become due and payable on the terms of any debt securities of such series; |
| • | default for 60 days after notice in the performance of any other covenant in respect of the debt securities of such series contained in the indenture; |
| • | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or |
| • | any other event of default described in the prospectus supplement for such series. |
An Event of Default with respect to any particular series of debt securities issued under an indenture does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued under such indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any debt securities of any default (except in the payment of principal or interest) if it considers such withholding is in the interests of such holders.
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, if an Event of Default with respect to any series of debt securities shall have occurred and be continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of such series of debt securities may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately; provided, however, that subject to certain conditions, any such declaration and its consequences may be rescinded and annulled by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series.
The indenture will require us to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by a specified officer, stating whether or not such officer has obtained knowledge of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of such indenture, and, if so, specifying each such default and the nature thereof.
Subject to provisions relating to its duties in case of a default, a trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders shall have offered to such trustee reasonable indemnity.
Subject to such provisions for indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the appropriate trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon such trustee, with respect to the debt securities of such series.
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Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture; Defeasance
With certain exceptions, we may satisfy and discharge its obligations under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities:
| • | by delivering to the trustee for cancellation all outstanding debt securities of such series or by depositing with the trustee cash or securities (as applicable under the terms of the indenture) sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness evidenced by the outstanding debt securities of such series that have not then been delivered to the trustee for cancellation when or after such securities have become due and payable; and |
| • | by paying all other sums payable by the us under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series. |
Under federal income tax law as of the date of this prospectus, such deposit and discharge may be treated as a disposition of the related debt securities. Each holder might be required to recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the holder’s cost or other tax basis in the debt securities and the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received upon such disposition. Holders might be required to include as income a different amount than would be includable without the discharge. Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a discharge, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than the federal income tax law.
A series of debt securities may have no conditions for defeasance or may have additional or different conditions for defeasance as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
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We may sell or distribute the securities offered by this prospectus, from time to time, in one or more offerings, as follows:
| • | through agents; |
| • | to dealers or underwriters for resale; |
| • | directly to purchasers; |
| • | in “at-the-market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; or |
| • | through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities may state or supplement the terms of the offering of the securities.
In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders. In some cases, we or dealers acting for us or on our behalf may also repurchase securities and reoffer them to the public by one or more of the methods described above. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our securities distributed by any of these methods may be sold to the public, in one or more transactions, either:
| • | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| • | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| • | at prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
| • | at negotiated prices. |
Sale through Underwriters or Dealers
If underwriters are used in the sale of securities offered through this prospectus, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account, including through underwriting, purchase, security lending or repurchase agreements with us. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. Underwriters may sell the securities in order to facilitate transactions in any of our other securities (described in this prospectus or otherwise), including other public or private transactions and short sales. Underwriters may offer the securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. If underwriters are used in the sale of securities offered through this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement will include the names and addresses of the entities underwriting the offering and the terms of the transaction.
If dealers are used in the sale of securities offered through this prospectus, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The applicable prospectus supplement will include the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
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Direct Sales and Sales through Agents
We may sell the securities offered through this prospectus directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. Such securities may also be sold through agents designated from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities and will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its commonly reasonable efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment. We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those shares. The terms of any such sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Offered securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the supplement relating to that offering. Unless otherwise specified in connection with a particular offering of securities, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
As one of the means of direct issuance of offered securities, we may utilize the services of an entity through which it may conduct an electronic “dutch auction” or similar offering of the offered securities among potential purchasers who are eligible to participate in the auction or offering of such offered securities, if so described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, each series of offered securities will be a new issue and will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of offered securities on an exchange. Any underwriters that we use in the sale of offered securities may make a market in such securities, but may discontinue such market making at any time without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the securities will have a liquid trading market.
Any underwriter may also engage in stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Rule 104 under the Exchange Act. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.
Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.
Derivative Transactions and Hedging
We and the underwriters may engage in derivative transactions involving the securities. These derivatives may consist of short sale transactions and other hedging activities. The underwriters may acquire a long or short
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position in the securities, hold or resell securities acquired and purchase options or futures on the securities and other derivative instruments with returns linked to or related to changes in the price of the securities. In order to facilitate these derivative transactions, we may enter into security lending or repurchase agreements with the underwriters. The underwriters may effect the derivative transactions through sales of the securities to the public, including short sales, or by lending the securities in order to facilitate short sale transactions by others. The underwriters may also use the securities purchased or borrowed from us or others (or, in the case of derivatives, securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives) to directly or indirectly settle sales of the securities or close out any related open borrowings of the securities.
Loans of Securities
We may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third parties that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement.
General Information
Agents, underwriters, and dealers may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Our agents, underwriters, and dealers, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our affiliates, in the ordinary course of business for which they may receive customary compensation.
Conflicts of Interest
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements with us, to indemnification by us relating to material misstatements and omissions in our offering documents. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in their ordinary course of business. Any material relationships between us and any underwriter or other dealer or agent will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Except for our Class A ordinary represented by ADSs and other securities issued upon a reopening of a previous series, each series of offered securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom offered securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such offered securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The offered securities may or may not be listed on a securities exchange. No assurance can be given that there will be a market for the offered securities.
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The validity of the ADSs, subscription rights and warrants and certain legal matters with respect to U.S. federal and New York State law in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, our special United States counsel. The validity of the Class A ordinary shares, including Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs, and preferred shares and preferred shares, to the extent governed by Cayman Islands law, will be passed upon for us by Harney Westwood & Riegels, our special legal counsel as to Cayman Islands law.
The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule of Studio City International Holdings Limited appearing in Studio City International Holdings Limited’s Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2020, and the effectiveness of Studio City International Holdings Limited’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020 have been audited by Ernst & Young, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The offices of Ernst & Young are located at 27/F, One Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| ITEM 8. | INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Under our memorandum and articles of association, to the fullest extent permissible under Cayman Islands law, every director and officer of our company shall be indemnified against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by him, other than by reason of such person’s own dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in connection with the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions as a director or officer of our company, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by him in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning our company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.
Furthermore, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers, a form of which has been filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our registration statement on Form F-1 (No. 333-227232), pursuant to which we have agreed to indemnify our directors and executive officers against certain liabilities and expenses that they incur in connection with claims made by reason of their being a director or an executive officer of our company.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with an offering of securities will also provide for indemnification of us and our officers and directors in certain cases.
| ITEM 9. | EXHIBITS |
The exhibits to this registration statement are listed on the Index to Exhibits to this registration statement, which Index to Exhibits is hereby incorporated by reference.
| ITEM 10. | UNDERTAKINGS |
(A) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in
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the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 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) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Exchange Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Exchange Act or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-K if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Form F-3.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
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(6) 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 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(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 Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
| * | To be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated herein by reference. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Macau, China, on November 30, 2021.
| Studio City International Holdings Limited | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Richard Benning | |
| Name: | Kevin Richard Benning | |
| Title: | Property General Manager | |
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KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Kevin Richard Benning, Geoffrey Stuart Davis and Tim Y. Sung as an attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to do any and all acts and all things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorney and agent may deem necessary or desirable to enable the registrant to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of Class A ordinary shares of the registrant, including Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs, preferred shares of the Registrant, subscription rights, warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares, preferred shares or ADSs, and debt securities, including, without limitation, the power and authority to sign the name of each of the undersigned in the capacities indicated below to the Registration Statement on Form F-3, or the Registration Statement, to be filed with the SEC with respect to such securities, to any and all amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, whether such amendments or supplements are filed before or after the effective date of such Registration Statement, to any related Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in connection with such Registration Statement or any and all amendments thereto, whether such amendments are filed before or after the effective date of such Registration Statement; and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that such attorney and agent shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on November 30, 2021.
| Signature |
Title | |
| /s/ Kevin Richard Benning Name: Kevin Richard Benning |
Property General Manager (principal executive officer) | |
| /s/ Geoffrey Stuart Davis Name: Geoffrey Stuart Davis |
Director and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) | |
| /s/ Amy L. Kuzdowicz Name: Amy L. Kuzdowicz |
Principal Accounting Officer | |
| /s/ Lawrence Yau Lung Ho Name: Lawrence Yau Lung Ho |
Director | |
| /s/ Evan Andrew Winkler Name: Evan Andrew Winkler |
Director | |
| /s/ Clarence Yuk Man Chung Name: Clarence Yuk Man Chung |
Director | |
| /s/ Stephanie Cheung Name: Stephanie Cheung |
Director | |
| /s/ Akiko Takahashi Name: Akiko Takahashi |
Director | |
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| /s/ David Anthony Reganato Name: David Anthony Reganato |
Director | |
| /s/ Dale R. Black Name: Dale R. Black |
Director | |
| /s/ Dominique Mielle Name: Dominique Mielle |
Independent Director | |
| /s/ Kevin F. Sullivan Name: Kevin F. Sullivan |
Independent Director | |
| /s/ Nigel Alan Dean Name: Nigel Alan Dean |
Independent Director | |
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SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Studio City International Holdings Limited, has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto in the city of New York, New York on November 30, 2021.
| Cogency Global Inc. Authorized U.S. Representative | ||
| By: | /s/ Colin A. De Vries | |
| Name: | Colin A. De Vries | |
| Title: | Senior Vice President on behalf of Cogency Global Inc. | |
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Exhibit 4.5
STUDIO CITY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
, as Trustee
FORM OF INDENTURE
Dated as of
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||
| ARTICLE I | ||||||
| DEFINITIONS | ||||||
| Section 1.01 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
| ARTICLE II | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES | ||||||
| Section 2.01 |
Forms | 4 | ||||
| Section 2.02 |
Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series | 5 | ||||
| Section 2.03 |
Authentication | 7 | ||||
| Section 2.04 |
Date and Denomination of Securities | 8 | ||||
| Section 2.05 |
Execution of Securities | 9 | ||||
| Section 2.06 |
Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Securities | 9 | ||||
| Section 2.07 |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities | 12 | ||||
| Section 2.08 |
Temporary Securities | 12 | ||||
| Section 2.09 |
Cancellation of Securities Paid, etc. | 13 | ||||
| Section 2.10 |
Computation of Interest | 13 | ||||
| Section 2.11 |
Form of Legend for Global Securities | 13 | ||||
| ARTICLE III | ||||||
| REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES; SINKING FUNDS | ||||||
| Section 3.01 |
Applicability of Article | 14 | ||||
| Section 3.02 |
Notice of Redemption; Selection of Securities | 14 | ||||
| Section 3.03 |
Payment of Securities Called for Redemption | 15 | ||||
| Section 3.04 |
Satisfaction of Mandatory Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 15 | ||||
| Section 3.05 |
Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 16 | ||||
| Section 3.06 |
Repayment at the Option of the Holder | 17 | ||||
| ARTICLE IV | ||||||
| PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY | ||||||
| Section 4.01 |
Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 17 | ||||
| Section 4.02 |
Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. | 18 | ||||
| Section 4.03 |
Appointment to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office | 18 | ||||
| Section 4.04 |
Provision as to Paying Agent | 18 | ||||
| Section 4.05 |
Statement as to Compliance | 19 | ||||
| Section 4.06 |
Additional Amounts | 19 | ||||
| ARTICLE V | ||||||
| SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE | ||||||
| Section 5.01 |
Securityholder Lists | 20 | ||||
| Section 5.02 |
Reports by the Company | 20 | ||||
| Section 5.03 |
Reports by the Trustee | 21 | ||||
| ARTICLE VI | ||||||
| REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT | ||||||
| Section 6.01 |
Events of Default | 21 | ||||
| Section 6.02 |
Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor | 23 | ||||
| Section 6.03 |
Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee | 24 | ||||
| Section 6.04 |
Proceedings by Securityholders | 25 | ||||
| Section 6.05 |
Proceedings by Trustee | 26 | ||||
| Section 6.06 |
Remedies Cumulative and Continuing | 26 | ||||
| Section 6.07 |
Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Securityholders | 26 | ||||
| Section 6.08 |
Notice of Defaults | 27 | ||||
| Section 6.09 |
Undertaking to Pay Costs | 27 | ||||
| ARTICLE VII | ||||||
| CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE | ||||||
| Section 7.01 |
Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee | 28 | ||||
| Section 7.02 |
Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. | 29 | ||||
| Section 7.03 |
No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. | 31 | ||||
| Section 7.04 |
Ownership of Securities | 31 | ||||
| Section 7.05 |
Moneys to be Held in Trust | 31 | ||||
| Section 7.06 |
Compensation and Expenses of Trustee | 31 | ||||
| Section 7.07 |
Officer’s Certificate as Evidence | 32 | ||||
| Section 7.08 |
Indentures Not Creating Potential Conflicting Interests For The Trustee | 32 | ||||
| Section 7.09 |
Eligibility of Trustee | 32 | ||||
| Section 7.10 |
Resignation or Removal of Trustee | 32 | ||||
| Section 7.11 |
Acceptance by Successor Trustee | 33 | ||||
| Section 7.12 |
Succession by Merger, etc. | 34 | ||||
| Section 7.13 |
Other Matters Concerning the Trustee | 35 | ||||
| Section 7.14 |
Appointment of Authenticating Agent | 35 | ||||
| ARTICLE VIII | ||||||
| CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS | ||||||
| Section 8.01 |
Action of Securityholders | 36 | ||||
| Section 8.02 |
Proof of Execution by Securityholders | 36 | ||||
| Section 8.03 |
Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners | 37 | ||||
| Section 8.04 |
Company-Owned Securities Disregarded | 37 | ||||
| Section 8.05 |
Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound | 38 | ||||
| ARTICLE IX [RESERVED] |
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| ARTICLE X | ||||||
| SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | ||||||
| Section 10.01 |
Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders | 38 | ||||
| Section 10.02 |
Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders | 40 | ||||
| Section 10.03 |
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 41 | ||||
| Section 10.04 |
Notation on Securities | 41 | ||||
| Section 10.05 |
Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished Trustee | 41 | ||||
| ARTICLE XI | ||||||
| CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE | ||||||
| Section 11.01 |
Company May Consolidate, Merge Or Sell Assets on Certain Terms | 42 | ||||
| Section 11.02 |
Successor Corporation or Limited Liability Company to be Substituted | 42 | ||||
| Section 11.03 |
Documents to be Given Trustee | 43 | ||||
| ARTICLE XII | ||||||
| SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE | ||||||
| Section 12.01 |
Discharge of Indenture | 43 | ||||
| Section 12.02 |
Legal Defeasance | 44 | ||||
| Section 12.03 |
Covenant Defeasance | 45 | ||||
| Section 12.04 |
Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee; Miscellaneous Provisions | 45 | ||||
| Section 12.05 |
Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held | 45 | ||||
| Section 12.06 |
Return of Unclaimed Moneys | 46 | ||||
| Section 12.07 |
Reinstatement | 46 | ||||
| ARTICLE XIII | ||||||
| IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | ||||||
| Section 13.01 |
Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations | 46 | ||||
| ARTICLE XIV | ||||||
| MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | ||||||
| Section 14.01 |
Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors | 46 | ||||
| Section 14.02 |
Official Acts by Successor Corporation | 46 | ||||
| Section 14.03 |
Addresses for Notices, Notice to Holders, Waiver | 47 | ||||
| Section 14.04 |
New York Contract | 47 | ||||
| Section 14.05 |
Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent | 47 | ||||
| Section 14.06 |
Legal Holidays | 48 | ||||
| Section 14.07 |
Securities in a Specified Currency other than Dollars | 48 | ||||
| Section 14.08 |
Trust Indenture Act to Control | 48 | ||||
| Section 14.09 |
Table of Contents, Headings, etc. | 48 | ||||
| Section 14.10 |
Execution in Counterparts | 49 | ||||
| Section 14.11 |
Separability; Benefits | 49 | ||||
| Section 14.12 |
U.S.A. Patriot Act | 49 | ||||
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THIS INDENTURE, dated as of by and between Studio City International Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and , as Trustee (the “Trustee”),
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the issue from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the “Securities”) up to such principal amount or amounts as may from time to time be authorized in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and to provide, among other things, for the authentication, delivery and administration thereof, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid indenture and agreement according to its terms have been done; NOW, THEREFORE:
In consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities by the holders thereof, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Securities as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions. The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. All other terms used in this Indenture which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or which are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of this Indenture as originally executed. The words “herein,” “hereof,” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.
“Authorized Officer” means any of the Company’s directors, the Company’s corporate secretary or the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.
“Beneficial Owner” means a Person who is the beneficial owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security as reflected on the books of the Depositary or on the books of a Person maintaining an account with such Depositary (directly as a Depositary participant or as an indirect participant, in each case in accordance with the rules of such Depositary).
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any Committee of such Board or specified officers and employees of the Company to which the powers of such Board have been lawfully delegated.
“Company” means Studio City International Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company, until any successor corporation or limited liability company shall have become such pursuant to the provisions of Article Eleven, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.02.
“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that is designated to act as depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 2.02.
“Dollar” means the coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
“Event of Default” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 2.11 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 for such Securities).
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time as herein provided, and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“interest,” when used with respect to a non-interest bearing Security, means interest payable after the principal thereof has become due and payable whether at maturity, by declaration of acceleration, by call for redemption, pursuant to a sinking fund, or otherwise.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by any one of the Authorized Officers and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall comply with Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and include the statements provided for in Section 14.05 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.
“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or of counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel, in any case, satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall comply with Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and include the statements provided for in Section 14.05 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Sections.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01.
2
“Overdue Rate” means, with respect to each series of Securities, the rate of interest designated as such in the resolution of the Board of Directors or the supplemental indenture, as the case may be, relating to such series as contemplated by Section 2.02, or if no such rate is specified, the rate at which such Securities shall bear interest.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Principal office of the Trustee,” or other similar term, means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.
“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means the chairman or any vice chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or any vice chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the president, any executive vice president, any senior vice president, any vice president, any assistant vice president, any trust officer, any assistant trust officer, or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Security” or “Securities” means any Security or Securities, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. “Outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except
| (a) | Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; |
| (b) | Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent), provided that if such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been delivered as in Article Three provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for delivering such notice; |
| (c) | Securities as to which defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 12.02; and |
| (d) | Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered, or which shall have been paid, pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Securities are held by persons in whose hands any of such Securities is a valid, binding and legal obligation of the Company. |
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 an Original Issue 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 6.01.
3
“Securityholder,” “holder of Securities,” or other similar terms, means any person in whose name at the time a particular Security is registered on the books of the Registrar kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Specified Currency” means the currency in which a Security is denominated, which may include Dollars, any foreign currency or any composite of two or more currencies.
“Trust Indenture Act of 1939” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as it was in force at the date of execution of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 10.03.
“Trustee” means the corporation or association named as Trustee in this Indenture and, subject to the provisions of Article Seven hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder. If pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture there shall be at any time more than one Trustee hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used with respect to Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
“U.S. Government Obligations” shall have the meaning specified in Section 12.02.
ARTICLE II
DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
Section 2.01 Forms. (a) The Securities of each series shall be in substantially such form as shall be established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the officers executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities of such series may be listed, or to conform to usage.
(b) The resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the form and terms of the Securities of any series pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02, respectively, of this Indenture, may provide for issuance of Global Securities. If Securities of a series are so authorized to be issued as Global Securities, any such Global Security may provide that it shall represent that aggregate amount of Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount or changes in the rights of holders of Securities represented thereby, shall be made in such manner and by such person or persons as shall be specified therein.
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(c) The Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication on all Securities shall be in substantially the following form:
“This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein described in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| , as Trustee | ||
| By: |
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| Authorized Signatory” | ||
Section 2.02 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:
(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);
(b) 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 Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 3.03, 3.06 or 10.04);
(c) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the Securities of the series is payable;
(d) the rate or rates, or the method of determination thereof, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable and, if other than as set forth in Section 2.04, the record dates for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable;
(e) in addition to the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York required to be maintained pursuant to Section 4.02, any other place or places where the principal of, and premium, if any, and any interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;
(f) the Specified Currency of the Securities of the series;
(g) the currency or currencies in which payments on the Securities of the series are payable, if other than the Specified Currency;
(h) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;
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(i) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder thereof and the price at which or process by which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(j) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any multiple thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(k) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;
(l) if the principal of or interest on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a holder thereof, in a coin or currency other than the Specified Currency, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;
(m) if the amount of payments of principal of and interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index based on a coin or currency other than the Specified Currency, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(n) any Events of Default with respect to the Securities of the series, if not set forth herein;
(o) if other than the rate of interest stated in the title of the Securities of the series, the applicable Overdue Rate;
(p) in the case of any series of non-interest bearing Securities, the applicable dates for purposes of clause (a) of Section 5.01;
(q) if other than is to act as Trustee for the Securities of the series, the name and Principal Office of such Trustee;
(r) if either or both of Sections 12.02 and 12.03 do not apply to any Securities of the series;
(s) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the name of the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 2.11 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in clause (b) of Section 2.06 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;
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(t) any addition to the covenants set forth in Article Four which applies to Securities of the series and whether any such covenant shall be subject to covenant defeasance under Section 12.03; and
(u) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of Directors or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.
Notwithstanding Section 2.02(b) herein and unless otherwise expressly provided with respect to a series of Securities, the aggregate principal amount of a series of Securities may be increased and additional Securities of such series may be issued up to the maximum aggregate principal amount authorized with respect to such series as increased; provided that no Event of Default with respect to such series has occurred and is continuing.
Section 2.03 Authentication. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication. Except as otherwise provided in this Article Two, the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Securities to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by any one of its Authorized Officers, which order shall set forth the number of separate Securities certificates, the principal amount of each of the Securities to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated, the registered holder of each of the said Securities and delivery instructions. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon:
(a) a copy of any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors relating thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;
(b) an executed supplemental indenture, if any, relating thereto;
(c) an Officer’s Certificate prepared in accordance with Section 14.05 which shall also state to the best knowledge of the signers of such Certificate that no Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(d) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 14.05 to the effect:
(i) that the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental indenture as permitted by Section 2.02 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(ii) that the Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver such Securities;
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(iii) that the execution and delivery of such Securities by the Company have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company;
(iv) that such Securities have been duly and validly executed, and when duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, subject to customary exceptions and qualifications; and
(v) that the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder will not conflict with, constitute a default under or violate any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the memorandum of association or by-laws of the Company.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver or cause to be authenticated and delivered any Securities under this Section 2.03 if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or vice presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Securityholders.
Section 2.04 Date and Denomination of Securities. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 2.02. In the absence of any such specification with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any multiple thereof. Securities of each series shall be numbered, lettered or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plan as the officers of the Company executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee.
Every Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
The person in whose name any Security of a particular series is registered at the close of business on any record date (as hereinafter defined) with respect to any interest payment date for such series shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such interest payment date notwithstanding the cancellation of such Security upon any registration of transfer or exchange subsequent to the record date and prior to such interest payment date; provided, however, that if and to the extent that the Company shall default in the payment of the interest due on such interest payment date, such defaulted interest shall be paid to the persons in whose names Outstanding Securities of such series are registered on a subsequent record date established by notice given by or on behalf of the Company to the holders of such Securities not less than 15 days preceding such subsequent record date, such record date to be not less than five days preceding the date of payment of such defaulted interest.
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Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 for Securities of a particular series, the term “record date” as used in this Section 2.04 with respect to any regular interest payment date, shall mean, the last day of the calendar month preceding such interest payment date if such interest payment date is the fifteenth day of such calendar month, and shall mean the fifteenth day of the calendar month preceding such interest payment date if such interest payment date is the first day of a calendar month, whether or not such day shall be a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or the location of any office of the Trustee charged with responsibility under this Indenture are authorized or required by law or executive order to close or remain closed.
Interest on the Securities may at the option of the Company be paid by check mailed to the persons entitled thereto at their respective addresses as such appear on the registry books of the Company.
Section 2.05 Execution of Securities. The Securities shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of any one of the Company’s Authorized Officers. Only such Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein recited, executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of an authorized officer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Security executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Securities so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed such Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.
Section 2.06 Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Securities. Securities of any series may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of the same series of other authorized denominations. Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered, at the option of the holders thereof, either at the office or agency designated and maintained by the Company for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.02 or at any of such other offices or agencies as may be designated and maintained by the Company for such purpose in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.02, and the Company shall execute and register and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities which the Security holder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive. Each person designated by the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.02 as a person authorized to register and register transfer of the Securities is sometimes herein referred to as a “Security registrar”.
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The Company shall keep, at each such office or agency, a register for each series of Securities issued hereunder (the registers of all Security registrars being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security register” or the “registry books of the Company”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register Securities and shall register the transfer of Securities as in this Article Two provided. The Security register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times the Security registrar shall be open for inspection by the Trustee and any Security registrar other than the Trustee. Upon due presentment for registration or registration of transfer of any Security of any series at any designated office or agency, the Company shall execute and register and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series for an equal aggregate principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any Security by any Security registrar in the registry books of the Company maintained by such Security registrar, and delivery of such Security, duly authenticated, shall be deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Security.
No person shall at any time be designated as or act as a Security registrar unless such person is at such time empowered under applicable law to act as such under and to the extent required by applicable law and regulations.
All Securities presented for registration of transfer or for exchange, redemption or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer or exchange in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
The Company shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of (a) any Securities of any series for the period of 15 days next preceding the selection of Securities of that series to be redeemed and thereafter until the date of delivery of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption, or (b) any Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in whole or in part except, in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed.
The provisions of clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) below shall apply only to Global Securities:
(a) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes under this Indenture.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue its services as Depositary for such Global Security and no successor Depositary has been appointed within 90 days after such notice or (ii) ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under
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Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 when the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as the Depositary and so notifies the Company, and no successor Depositary has been appointed within 90 days after such notice, (B) the Company determines at any time that the Securities shall no longer be represented by Global Securities and shall inform such Depositary of such determination and participants in such Depositary elect to withdraw their beneficial interests in the Securities from such Depositary, following notification by the Depositary of their right to do so, or (C) such exchange is made upon request by or on behalf of the Depositary in accordance with customary procedures, following the request of a Beneficial Owner seeking to exercise or enforce its rights under the Securities.
(c) Subject to clause (b) above, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.
(d) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.
(e) Subject to the provisions of clause (g) below, the registered Holder may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members (as defined below in clause (g)) and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.
(f) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in clause (b) above, the Company will promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons.
(g) Neither any members of, or participants in, the Depositary (collectively, the “Agent Members”) nor any other Persons on whose behalf Agent Members may act shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security registered in the name of the Depositary or any nominee thereof, or under any such Global Security, and the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner and holder of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever (aside from the delivery of any notices). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company or the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, or impair, as between the Depositary, its Agent Members and any other person on whose behalf an Agent Member may act, the operation of customary practices of such Persons governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any Security.
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Section 2.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities. In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company in the case of a mutilated Security shall, and in the case of a lost, stolen or destroyed Security may in its discretion, execute and, upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless from any loss or liability which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced and subsequently presented or claimed for payment and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish the Company and to the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and the ownership thereof.
Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Security which has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substituted Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless from any loss or liability which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced and subsequently presented or claimed for payment and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and the ownership thereof.
Every substituted Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.07 by virtue of the fact that any Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.08 Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten). Temporary Securities shall be issuable in any authorized denomination and substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Security shall be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued. Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the option of the holders thereof, either at the office or agency to be designated and maintained by the Company for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.02 or at any of such other
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offices or agencies as may be designated and maintained by the Company for such purpose in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.02, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 2.09 Cancellation of Securities Paid, etc. All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, repayment, exchange or registration of transfer or for credit against any sinking fund shall, if surrendered to the Company, any Security registrar, any paying agent or any other agent of the Company or of the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and promptly cancelled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee may dispose of cancelled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures and deliver a certificate of such disposition to the Company or, at the written request of the Company, shall deliver cancelled Securities to the Company. If the Company shall acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.10 Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Section 2.11 Form of Legend for Global Securities. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (or such other form as a securities exchange or Depositary may request or require):
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
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ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES; SINKING FUNDS
Section 3.01 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable, as the case may be, (i) to the Securities of any series which are redeemable before their maturity and (ii) to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series, in either case except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.”
Section 3.02 Notice of Redemption; Selection of Securities. In case the Company shall desire to exercise any right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of, the Securities of any series in accordance with their terms, it shall fix a date for redemption and shall deliver or cause to be delivered a notice of such redemption at least 10 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the holders of Securities of such series so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the registry books of the Registrar and to the Trustee, except as the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors to establish the terms of any series of Securities may otherwise provide. The notice shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security of such series.
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price at which the Securities of such series are to be redeemed (or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof), the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice and that on and after said date any interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. Where the redemption price is not ascertainable at the time the notice of redemption is given as aforesaid, the Company shall notify the Trustee of said redemption price promptly after the calculation thereof. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall specify the number or numbers of the Securities of that series to be redeemed. In case any Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of that series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
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On or prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section 3.02, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents (or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.04) an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Securities or portions thereof so called for redemption, together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, (i) the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 10 days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the redemption date as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and (ii)(x) if such Securities are at the time represented by a Global Security, then the Depositary shall select by lot (or otherwise, as required by the Depositary) the particular interests to be redeemed or (y) if any of such Securities are not represented by a Global Security, then the Trustee shall select or cause to be selected, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Securities of that series or portions thereof to be redeemed. Securities of a series may be redeemed in part only in multiples of the smallest authorized denomination of that series.
Section 3.03 Payment of Securities Called for Redemption. If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.02 or Section 3.05, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities or portions of such Securities, together with any interest accrued to said date) any interest on the Securities of such series or portions of Securities of such series so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a place of payment in said notice specified, the said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided, however, that any regularly scheduled installment of interest becoming due on or prior to the date fixed for redemption shall be payable to holders of such Securities registered as such on the relevant record date according to their terms.
Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
Section 3.04 Satisfaction of Mandatory Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Securities of that series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or (b) receive credit for the principal amount of Securities of that series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities; provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
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Section 3.05 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 10 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by any Authorized Officer specifying the amount of the next ensuing 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 (which cash may be deposited with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregated and held in trust as provided in Section 4.04) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.04 (which Securities, if not theretofore delivered, will accompany such certificate) and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make a permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. In the case of the failure of the Company to deliver such certificate (or to deliver the Securities specified in this paragraph), the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Securities as provided in Section 3.04 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.
Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash which shall equal or exceed $100,000 or the equivalent amount in the Specified Currency (if other than Dollars) (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request or determine) with respect to the Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the Trustee (or by the Company if the Company is acting as its own paying agent) on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the next sinking fund payment date following the date of such payment) to the redemption of such Securities at the redemption price specified in such Securities for operation of the sinking fund together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee (or by the Company if the Company is acting as its own paying agent) to the redemption of Securities shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment received by the Trustee (or if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregated and held in trust as provided in Section 4.04) for such series and, together with such payment (or such amount so segregated), shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.05. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee (or if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregated and held in trust as provided in Section 4.04) on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series shall be applied by the Trustee (or by the Company if the Company is acting as its own paying agent), together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited (or segregated) sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Securities of that series at maturity.
The Trustee shall select or cause to be selected the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in the last paragraph of Section 3.02, and the Company shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the manner provided in Section 3.02 except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Securities are being redeemed by operation of the sinking fund. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.
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On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee in cash (or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.04) a sum equal to any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption of Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section.
Neither the Trustee nor the Company shall redeem any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or deliver any notice of redemption of such Securities by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a default in payment of interest, if any, on such Securities or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to such Securities, except that if the notice of redemption of any such Securities shall theretofore have been delivered in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee (or the Company if the Company is acting as its own paying agent) shall redeem such Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee (or segregated by the Company) for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of such Securities; provided, however, that in case such default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for such Securities on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section.
Section 3.06 Repayment at the Option of the Holder. Any series of Securities may be made, by provision contained in or established pursuant to a supplemental indenture or a resolution of the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof, subject to repayment, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder on a date or dates specified prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest to the date of repayment, on such notice as may be required, provided, however, that the holder of a Security may only elect partial repayment in an amount that will result in the portion of such Security that will remain Outstanding after such repayment constituting an authorized denomination, or combination thereof, of such Securities.
ARTICLE IV
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 4.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on each of the Securities of that series at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided in such Securities.
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Section 4.02 Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. As long as any of the Securities of a series remain Outstanding, the Company will designate and maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where the Securities of that series may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Securities of that series may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series or of this Indenture may be served, not including service of process. In addition to such office or offices or agency or agencies, the Company may from time to time designate and maintain one or more additional offices or agencies within or outside the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the Securities of that series may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designation, as it may deem desirable or expedient. The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of each such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the principal office of the Trustee.
The Company hereby initially designates the office of the Trustee located at ; Attn: , as the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the Securities of each series may be presented for payment, for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of each series or of this Indenture may be served.
Section 4.03 Appointment to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a successor trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to each series of Securities hereunder.
Section 4.04 Provision as to Paying Agent. (a) If the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.04:
(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series;
(ii) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and
(iii) that at any time during the continuance of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) specified in the preceding paragraph (ii), such paying agent will, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by it.
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(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to the Securities of any series, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of such Securities a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, so becoming due and will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series when the same shall become due and payable.
(c) Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it, or any paying agent hereunder, as required by this Section, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.
(d) Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.04 is subject to Sections 12.05 and 12.06.
(e) Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents with respect to the Securities of any series, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series, deposit with a designated paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the persons entitled to such principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure so to act.
Section 4.05 Statement as to Compliance. The Company will furnish to the Trustee on or before May 1, in each year (beginning with the first May 1 following the first date of issuance of any Securities under this Indenture) a brief certificate (which need not comply with Section 14.05) from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company as required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Except with respect to the receipt of Securities payments and any default or Event of Default information contained in the certificate delivered to it pursuant to this Section 4.05, the Trustee shall have no duty to review, ascertain or confirm the Company’s compliance with, or breach of, any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.
Section 4.06 Additional Amounts. If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of additional amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first interest payment date with respect to that series of Securities and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of that series if there has been a change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officer’s Certificate, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee and the principal paying agent, if other than the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate instructing the Trustee and such paying agent whether such payment of principal of or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to holders of the Securities of that series without withholding or deduction for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding or deduction shall be required, then such Officer’s Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld or deducted on such
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payments to such holders and shall certify the fact that additional amounts will be payable and the amounts so payable to each holder, and the Company shall pay to the Trustee or such paying agent the additional amounts required to be paid by this Section. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any paying agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without gross negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.
Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium, interest or any other amounts on, or in respect of, any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of additional amounts provided by the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context, additional amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of additional amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding the payment of additional amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.
ARTICLE V
SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 5.01 Securityholder Lists. If and so long as the Trustee shall not be the Security registrar for the Securities of any series, the Company and any other obligor on the Securities will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the holders of the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (a) semi-annually not less than 15 days prior to the date for the payment of interest on such Securities, as hereinabove specified, as of such record date, and on dates to be determined pursuant to Section 2.02 for non-interest bearing Securities in each year, and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within thirty days after receipt by the Company of any such request as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is furnished.
Section 5.02 Reports by the Company. The Company covenants to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports that the Company is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or pursuant to Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee is under no duty to examine such reports, information or documents to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Indenture or to ascertain the correctness or otherwise of the information or the statements contained therein. The Trustee is entitled to assume such compliance and correctness unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee is informed otherwise.
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Section 5.03 Reports by the Trustee. Any Trustee’s report required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 shall be transmitted as provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, so long as any Securities are Outstanding hereunder, and shall be dated no more than 60 days prior to July 1 of each year.
ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 6.01 Events of Default. The term “Event of Default” whenever used herein with respect to Securities of any series means any one of the following events and such other events as may be established with respect to the Securities of such series as contemplated by Section 2.02 hereof, continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of notice, if any, designated in this Indenture or as may be established with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 2.02 hereof, as the case may be, unless it is either inapplicable or is specifically deleted or modified in the applicable resolution of the Board of Directors or in the supplemental indenture under which such series of Securities is issued, as the case may be, as contemplated by Section 2.02:
(a) default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any Security of such series when and as the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, repayment or otherwise; or
(b) default for 30 days in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security of such series when and as the same shall become due and payable; or
(c) default in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund payment or analogous obligation as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the Securities of such series; or
(d) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company in respect of the Securities of such series contained in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement in respect of the Securities of such series a default in whose observance or performance is elsewhere in this Section 6.01 specifically dealt with) continued for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the Company to remedy the same, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee by registered mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least twenty-five percent in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding; or
(e) a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered adjudging the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization of the Company under the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other similar applicable U.S. Federal or State law, and such decree or order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee (or other similar official) in bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company or of all or substantially all of the property of the Company, or for the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company, shall have been entered, and such decree or order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or
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(f) the Company shall institute proceedings to be adjudicated a voluntary bankrupt, or shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against the Company, or shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization under the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other similar applicable U.S. Federal or State law, or shall consent to the filing of any such petition, or shall consent to the appointment of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee (or other similar official) in bankruptcy or insolvency of it or of its property, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing the inability of the Company to pay its debts generally as they become due; or
(g) any other Event of Default provided in the applicable resolution of the Board of Directors or in the supplemental indenture under which such series of Securities is issued, as the case may be, as contemplated by Section 2.02.
If an Event of Default as contemplated by Sections 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) occurs, the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portions of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding will become due and payable immediately. If any other Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all of the Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than twenty-five percent in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders of such series), may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all the Securities of such series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. This provision, however, is subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of the Securities of any series shall have been so declared or otherwise become due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest, if any, upon all of the Securities of such series and the principal of, and premium, if any, on any and all Securities of such series which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of interest (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) and on such principal at the Overdue Rate applicable to such series, to the date of such payment or deposit) and all amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, and any and all defaults under this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities, other than the nonpayment of principal of and accrued interest on Securities of such series which shall have become due solely by acceleration, shall have been remedied or cured or waived or provision shall have been made therefor to the satisfaction of the Trustee—then and in every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults with respect to such series and rescind and annul such declaration or acceleration and its consequences; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
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In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceeding shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.
Section 6.02 Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor. The Company covenants that (a) in case default shall be made in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Security of any series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days, (b) in case default shall be made in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any Security of any series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity of the Securities of that series or upon redemption or by declaration, repayment or otherwise or (c) in case of default in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund payment or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of any series—then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holder of any such Security (or holders of any series of Securities in the case of clause (c) above) the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on any such Security (or Securities of any such series in the case of clause (c) above) for principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with interest upon the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon the overdue installments of interest, if any, at the Overdue Rate applicable to any such Security (or Securities of any such series in the case of clause (c) above); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover costs and expenses of collection, and any further amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06.
In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of any express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Securities wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.
In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy, for the insolvency or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of any series under the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other similar applicable U.S. Federal or State law, or in case a receiver or trustee (or other similar official) shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor on the Securities of any series, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities of any series 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 pursuant to the provisions of this
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Section 6.02, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal (or, if the Securities of any series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be due and payable with respect to such series pursuant to a declaration in accordance with Section 6.01), premium, if any, and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities of any series and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the Securityholders of any series allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of any series, its or their creditors, or its or their property, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of costs and expenses of collection, and any further amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06 and incurred by it up to the date of such distribution; and any receiver, assignee or trustee (or other similar official) in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee costs and expenses of collection and any further amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06 and incurred by it up to the date of such distribution.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting any of the Securities of any series or the rights of any holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under the Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities of such series or the production thereof in any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities in respect of which such action was taken. In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings in which a declaratory judgment of a court may be sought as to the interpretation or construction of any provision of this Indenture, to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders of the Securities to which such proceedings relate, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of such Securities parties to any such proceedings.
Section 6.03 Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article and, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under the Indenture shall be applied in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Securities in respect of which moneys have been collected, and the notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06;
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SECOND: In case the principal of the Outstanding Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due (at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, repayment or otherwise) and be unpaid, to the payment of interest, if any, on such Securities, in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the Overdue Rate applicable to such Securities, such payments to be made ratably to the person entitled thereto;
THIRD: In case the principal of the Outstanding Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due (at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, repayment or otherwise), to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon such Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with interest on the overdue principal, and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest, if any, at the Overdue Rate applicable to such Securities; and in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon such Securities, then to the payment of such principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, without preference or priority of principal, and premium, if any, over interest, if any, or of interest, if any, over principal, and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest, if any, over any other installment of interest, if any, or of any such Security over any other such Security, ratably to the aggregate of such principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any; and
FOURTH: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company, its successors or assigns, or to whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
Section 6.04 Proceedings by Securityholders. No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee (or other similar official), or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series and of the continuance thereof, as hereinbefore provided, (ii) the holders of not less than twenty-five percent in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such security and indemnity as it may require against loss, the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and (iii) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall not have received from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding a direction inconsistent with that request, and shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding, it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security with every other taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other holder of Securities of such series, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the matter herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series.
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Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security, or upon redemption, by declaration, repayment or otherwise, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder, and no provision of the Securities of any series or of this Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of such series at the respective places, at the respective times, at the respective rates and in the coin or currency, therein and herein prescribed.
Section 6.05 Proceedings by Trustee. In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Section 6.06 Remedies Cumulative and Continuing. All powers and remedies given by this Article Six to the Trustee or to the Securityholders of any series shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of such Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any such Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article Six or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders of any series may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders of such series.
Section 6.07 Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Securityholders. (a) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding 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, however, that (subject to the provisions of Section 7.01) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or expense for which it is not adequately indemnified.
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(b) Prior to any acceleration or declaration accelerating the maturity of the Securities of any series, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding may, on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series, waive any past default or Event of Default with respect to such series and its consequences except a default in the payment of interest, if any, on, or the principal of or premium, if any, on any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment or analogous obligation with respect to Securities of such series, or in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Section 10.02 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Security affected. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of that series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 6.07(b), said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Securities of such series and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.
Section 6.08 Notice of Defaults. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the Securities of any series, deliver to all holders of Securities of such series, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the registry books of the Company, notice of all defaults with respect to such series actually known to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice (the term “defaults” for the purpose of this Section 6.08 being hereby defined to be the events specified in Section 6.01 or established with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 2.02, not including the periods of grace, if any, provided for therein or established with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 2.02 and irrespective of the giving of the notices specified in clauses (d) and (e) of Section 6.01 or established with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 2.02); provided, however, that except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the Securities of such series or in the making of any sinking fund installment or analogous obligation with respect to such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of Securities of such series.
Section 6.09 Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, omitted or suffered 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 6.09 shall not apply (i) to any suit instituted by the Trustee, (ii) to any suit instituted by any holder of Securities of any series or group of such holders, holding in the aggregate more than ten percent in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series or (iii) to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Security (A) on or after the due date expressed in such Security, (B) on or after the date fixed for redemption or repayment or (C) after such Security shall have become due by declaration.
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ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.01 Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. With respect to the holders of any series of Securities issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred with respect to such series, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (which has not been cured or waived) the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture with respect to such series, 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.
No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that
(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:
(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of a series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of Securities of any series pursuant to Section 6.07 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series;
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(d) whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct of, the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee for any series of Securities shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7.01;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company; and
(f) money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except as required by law.
None of the provisions of this Indenture shall be construed as requiring the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
The provisions of this Section 7.01 are in furtherance of and subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
Section 7.02 Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. In furtherance of and subject to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, and subject to the provisions of Section 7.01:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an instrument signed in the name of the Company by any one of its Authorized Officers (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or an Attesting Secretary of the Company;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel and any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered to be taken by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such Opinion of Counsel;
(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the loss, costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein or thereby;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, omitted or suffered by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
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(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any inquiry or investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing so to do by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series affected then Outstanding; provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs and expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security conferred upon it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding; and the reasonable expense of such investigation shall be paid by the Company, or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(h) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or written notice of any event which is in fact such a default or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;
(i) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of it capacities hereunder and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;
(j) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;
(k) the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss or profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;
(l) the Trustee shall not be required to give any note, bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture; and
(m) the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God, earthquakes, fire, flood, terrorism, wars and other military disturbances, sabotage, epidemics, riots, interruptions, loss or malfunction of utilities or communication services and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.
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Section 7.03 No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company (except in the Trustee’s certificates of authentication), and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or the Securities, provided that the Trustee shall not be relieved of its duty to authenticate Securities only as authorized by this Indenture. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company or any of the Securities or of the proceeds thereof.
Section 7.04 Ownership of Securities. The Trustee and any agent of the Company or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee or such agent.
Section 7.05 Moneys to be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Sections 12.05 and 12.06 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be under any liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time upon the written order of the Company, signed by any one of its Authorized Officers.
Section 7.06 Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) and, except as otherwise expressly provided, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. If any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to the lien of this Indenture, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such lien, shall be entitled to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax liens or other prior liens or encumbrances thereon. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Securities.
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Section 7.07 Officer’s Certificate as Evidence. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.01 and 7.02, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, omitting or suffering any action to be taken hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, omitted or suffered by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
Section 7.08 Indentures Not Creating Potential Conflicting Interests For The Trustee. The following indenture is hereby specifically described for the purposes of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939: this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any other series.
Section 7.09 Eligibility of Trustee. The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any state, which (a) is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, (b) is subject to supervision or examination by U.S. Federal or State authority and (c) shall have at all times a combined capital and surplus of not less than fifty million dollars. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law, or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 7.09, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation at any time shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.09, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10. The provisions of this Section 7.09 are in furtherance of and subject to Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
Section 7.10 Resignation or Removal of Trustee. (a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to any one or more or all series of Securities by giving written notice of resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof to the holders of the applicable series of Securities at their addresses as they shall appear on the registry books of the Registrar. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees with respect to the applicable series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors of the Company, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed with respect to any series and have accepted appointment within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities of the applicable series for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 6.09, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur—
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(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months, or
(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 and Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 with respect to any series of Securities and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or
(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation—
then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to such series and appoint a successor trustee with respect to such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors of the Company, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee with respect to such series.
(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of one or more series (each series voting as a class) or all series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to the applicable series or all series, as the case may be, and appoint with respect to the applicable series or all series, as the case may be, a successor trustee by written notice of such action to the Company, the Trustee and the successor trustee.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee with respect to any series and any appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 7.10 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.
(e) No predecessor Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor Trustee.
Section 7.11 Acceptance by Successor Trustee. Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 7.10 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee with respect to any or all applicable series shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall
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become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment (or due provision therefor) of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and powers with respect to such series of the trustee so ceasing to act. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing in order more fully and certainly to vest in and confirm to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the predecessor trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor trustee and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such trustee.
No successor trustee with respect to a series of Securities shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 7.11 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall, with respect to such series, be qualified under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.09.
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee with respect to any series as provided in this Section 7.11, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the holders of Securities of such series at their addresses as they shall appear on the registry books of the Company. If the Company fails to mail such notice within ten days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.
Section 7.12 Succession by Merger, etc. Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor to the Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be qualified under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.09, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
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In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trust created by this Indenture with respect to one or more series of Securities any of such Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee by merger, conversion or consolidation may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee and deliver such Security so authenticated; and in case at that time any of such Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of such successor to the Trustee or, if such successor to the Trustee is a successor by merger, conversion or consolidation, the name of any predecessor hereunder; and in all such cases such certificate shall have the full force which it is anywhere in such Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
Section 7.13 Other Matters Concerning the Trustee. The principal corporate trust office of the Trustee at the date of this Indenture is located at ; Attn: .
Section 7.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent. The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer, partial conversion or partial redemption or pursuant to Section 2.07, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by U.S. Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company.
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Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all holders of Securities as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
If an appointment is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:
“Dated:
This is one of the Securities described in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| , as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| As Authenticating Agent | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signatory” | ||
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 8.01 Action of Securityholders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.
Section 8.02 Proof of Execution by Securityholders. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.01 and 7.02, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the registry books of the Registrar.
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The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of holders of Securities of any series entitled to vote or consent to or revoke any action referred to in Section 8.01, which record date may be set at any time or from time to time by notice to the Trustee, for any date or dates (in the case of any adjournment or reconsideration) not more than 60 days nor less than five days prior to the proposed date of such vote or consent, and thereafter, notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, with respect to Securities of any series, only holders of Securities of such series of record on such record date shall be entitled to so vote or give such consent or revoke such vote or consent.
Section 8.03 Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or of the Trustee may deem the person in whose name any Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company to be, and may treat him as, the owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.04) interest, if any, on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or of the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being, or upon his order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Security.
No Beneficial Owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Section 8.04 Company-Owned Securities Disregarded. In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities have concurred in any demand, request, notice, direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being made or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being made shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided, that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in conclusively relying on any such demand, request, notice, direction, consent or waiver only Securities which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section 8.04 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to vote such Securities and that the pledgee is not a person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
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Section 8.05 Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its principal office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders of such Security, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security or any Security issued in exchange or substitution therefor.
ARTICLE IX
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE X
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 10.01 Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders. The Company, when authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company pursuant to Article Eleven hereof;
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included for the benefit of such series) as the Board of Directors of the Company and the Trustee shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, however, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision, such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default;
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(c) to add any additional Events of Default (and, if such Events of Default are to be applicable to less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are applicable only to specified series);
(d) to provide for the issuance under this Indenture of Securities in coupon form (including Securities registrable as to principal only) and to provide for exchangeability of such Securities with the Securities of the same series issued hereunder in fully registered form and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;
(e) to establish the forms or terms of Securities of any series or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 2.02;
(f) to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;
(g) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture which shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of any Securities; provided, however, that any amendment made solely to conform the provisions of this Indenture to the description of the Securities contained in the prospectus or other offering document pursuant to which the Securities were sold will be deemed not to adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Securities as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate;
(h) to modify or amend this Indenture to permit the qualification of this Indenture or any indentures supplemental hereto under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;
(i) to add to or change any provision of this Indenture to provide that bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal or premium with respect to registered Securities or of principal, premium or interest with respect to bearer Securities, or to permit registered Securities to be exchanged for bearer Securities; provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination may not materially adversely affect the interests of any holders of Securities at the time Outstanding nor permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities of any series in uncertificated form;
(j) to add guarantees with respect to the Securities of any series or to secure the Securities of any series;
(k) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor or separate trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series or to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 7.11 or pursuant to Section 2.02(q); and
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(l) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination may be effected only when no Outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture is entitled to the benefit of such provision.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 10.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 10.02.
Section 10.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders. With the written consent (evidenced as provided in Sections 8.01 and 8.02) of the holders of a majority in the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series (each series voting as a class) affected by such supplemental indenture at the time Outstanding, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities or each such series; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) change the stated maturity of principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, (ii) reduce the rate of or extend the time of payment of interest, if any, on any Security or alter the manner of calculation of interest payable on any Security (except as part of any remarketing of the Securities of any series, or any interest rate reset with respect thereto in each case in accordance with the terms thereof), (iii) reduce the principal amount or premium, if any, on any Security, (iv) make the principal amount or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in any Security, (v) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Securities of any series the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture or any waiver of any past default or Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.07(b), (vi) change any place of payment where the Securities of any series or interest thereon is payable, (vii) impair the right of any holder of a Security to institute suit for any such payment, reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01, adversely affect the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder or extend the time or reduce the amount of any payment to any sinking fund or analogous obligation relating to any Security, or (viii) modify any provision of Section 6.07(b) or 10.02 (except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each Security so affected), without, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i) through (viii), the consent of the holder of each Security so affected. A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the holders of Securities of any other series.
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Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution and delivery of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 10.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Section 10.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this Article Ten shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as then in effect. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article Ten, this Indenture shall be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Securities shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section 10.04 Notation on Securities. Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article Ten may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of such series then Outstanding.
Section 10.05 Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished Trustee. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.01 and 7.02, may receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article Ten and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions and qualifications.
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ARTICLE XI
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
Section 11.01 Company May Consolidate, Merge Or Sell Assets on Certain Terms. Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall be deemed to prevent the consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation, or the merger into the Company of any other corporation, or the sale by the Company of its assets as, or substantially as, an entirety, or otherwise; provided, however, that (a) in case of any such consolidation or merger the corporation resulting from such consolidation or any corporation other than the Company into which such merger shall be made shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it has been named herein as a party hereto and shall become liable and be bound for, and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all the Securities of each series and the Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto and the performance and observance of each and every covenant and condition of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed, (b) as a condition of any such sale of the assets of the Company as, or substantially as, an entirety, the corporation to which such assets shall be sold shall (i) expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all the Securities of each series and the Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto and the performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed and (ii) simultaneously with the delivery to it of the conveyances or instruments of transfer of such assets, execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture thereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, whereby such purchasing corporation shall so assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all the Securities of each series and the Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto and the performance and observance of each and every covenant and condition of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed, to the same extent that the Issuer is bound and liable, (c) the Company is not, or such successor corporation is not, immediately after such merger, consolidation or sale, in default in the performance of any obligations under this Indenture and (d) deliver an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel that such transaction is permitted by this Indenture and all conditions precedent have been complied with.
Section 11.02 Successor Corporation or Limited Liability Company to be Substituted. In case of any such merger, consolidation or sale, and upon any such assumption by the successor corporation or limited liability company, such successor corporation or limited liability company shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and the Company shall be relieved of any further obligation under this Indenture and under the Securities. Such successor corporation or limited liability company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of Studio City International Holdings Limited, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor corporation or limited liability company, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities which such successor corporation or limited liability company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.
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In case of any such merger, consolidation or sale, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
Section 11.03 Documents to be Given Trustee. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.01 and 7.02, may receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger or sale, and any such assumption, comply with the provisions of this Article Eleven.
ARTICLE XII
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 12.01 Discharge of Indenture. When (a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen or in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered, or which shall have been paid, pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.07 or Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company as provided in Section 12.06) and not theretofore cancelled, or (b) all the Securities not theretofore cancelled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Securities (other than any (i) Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered, or which shall have been paid, pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.07 or (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company as provided in Section 12.06) not theretofore cancelled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if in either case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities, (ii) substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, (iii) rights of holders to receive payments of principal thereof and interest thereon, and remaining rights of the holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) the rights, obligations and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (v) the rights of the Securityholders as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them), and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture, the Company, however, hereby agreeing to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Securities.
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Section 12.02 Legal Defeasance. On the 91st day following the deposit referred to in clause (a), the Company will be deemed to have paid and will be discharged from its obligations in respect of the Securities of the series with respect to which such deposit shall have been made and the Indenture with respect to such Securities, other than (i) the rights of the Securityholders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in clause (a), payments in respect of the principal of and interest on such securities when such payments are due and (ii) its obligations in Article Two and Sections 4.02, 7.06, 7.10, 12.06; and 12.07 provided the following conditions have been satisfied:
(a) The Company has irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the Securityholders of such series, money sufficient, or U.S. Government Obligations, the principal of and interest on which shall be sufficient, or a combination thereof sufficient, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, without consideration of any reinvestment, to pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, provided that any redemption before maturity has been irrevocably provided for under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee.
(b) The deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.
(c) The Company has delivered to the Trustee either (x) a ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would otherwise have been the case or (y) an Opinion of Counsel, based on a change in law after the date of the Indenture, to the same effect as the ruling described in clause (x).
(d) The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for herein relating to the defeasance have been complied with.
Prior to the end of the 91-day period, none of the Company’s obligations under the Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series will be discharged. Thereafter, the Trustee, upon the request and at the cost and expense of the Company, will acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Company’s obligations under the Securities of such series and the Indenture with respect to such series except for the surviving obligations specified above.
As used herein, “U.S. Government Obligation” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, 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 depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.
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Section 12.03 Covenant Defeasance. After the 91st day following the deposit referred to in clause (a) with respect to the Securities of a series, the Company’s obligations set forth in the covenant or covenants for such series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.02(t) will terminate, and clauses (d) (to the extent relating to such covenant or covenants), (e) and (h) of Section 6.01 will no longer constitute Events of Default with respect to the Securities of a series, provided the following conditions have been satisfied:
(a) the Company has complied with clauses (a), (b) and (d) of Section 12.02; and
(b) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would otherwise have been the case.
Except as specifically stated above, none of the Company’s obligations under the Indenture will be discharged.
Section 12.04 Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee; Miscellaneous Provisions. All moneys and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.02 or 12.03 shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company if acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular Securities for payment or redemption of which such moneys or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 12.01 or 12.03 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the holders of the Securities.
Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon request of the Company any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 12.02 or 12.03 with respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.
Section 12.05 Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held. Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any paying agent of the Securities (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to the Company or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.
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Section 12.06 Return of Unclaimed Moneys. Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee for payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on Securities of any series and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Securities of that series for two years after the date upon which the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee on written demand; and the holder of any such Securities shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect and all liability of the Trustee with respect to such money shall thereupon cease.
Section 12.07 Reinstatement. If and for so long as the Trustee is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations held in trust pursuant to Section 12.01, 12.02 or 12.03 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 Company’s obligations under the Indenture and the Securities will be reinstated as though no such deposit in trust had been made. If the Company makes any payment of principal of or interest on any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, it will be subrogated to the rights of the Securityholders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held in trust.
ARTICLE XIII
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 13.01 Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations. No recourse for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.
ARTICLE XIV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 14.01 Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.
Section 14.02 Official Acts by Successor Corporation. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.
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Section 14.03 Addresses for Notices, Notice to Holders, Waiver. Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities on the Company may be given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by first class mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee) to Studio City International Holdings Limited, 37th Floor, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, Attn: Company Secretary. Any notice, direction, request or demand by any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the principal office of the Trustee, addressed to the attention of its corporate trust office as specified in Section 7.13 hereof.
Where this Indenture provides for notice of holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each holder affected by such event, at its address as it appears in the Security register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
Section 14.04 New York Contract. This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
Section 14.05 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include: (1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinion contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
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Section 14.06 Legal Holidays. In any case where the date of maturity of interest, if any, on or principal of, or premium, if any, on the Securities or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any Security will be in The City of New York, New York, a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or executive order to close or remain closed, then payment of such interest, if any, on or principal of or premium, if any, on the Securities need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding day not in such city, a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or executive order to close or remain closed, with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or a date fixed for redemption or repayment, and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such date.
Section 14.07 Securities in a Specified Currency other than Dollars. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 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 any Securities of any series which are denominated in a Specified Currency other than Dollars 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 that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount of such Specified Currency at the Market Exchange Rate. For purposes of this Section 14.07, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of the Specified Currency published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such Specified Currency, the Trustee shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or such other quotations as the Trustee shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a series denominated in a Specified Currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, including, without limitation, any determination contemplated in Section 6.01(d) or (e).
All decisions and determination of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Securityholders.
Section 14.08 Trust Indenture Act to Control. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with another provision (an “incorporated provision”) included in this Indenture by operation of, Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.
Section 14.09 Table of Contents, Headings, etc. The table of contents and the titles 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.
48
Section 14.10 Execution in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. This Indenture may be executed by facsimile transmission, PDF, electronic signature or other similar electronic means with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
Section 14.11 Separability; Benefits. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in any respect, then, to the extent permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 14.12 U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, expressed or implied, shall give to any person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the holders of the Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
49
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of .
| STUDIO CITY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| , as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Exhibit 5.1
|
Harney Westwood & Riegels 3501 The Center 99 Queen’s Road Central Hong Kong Tel: +852 5806 7800 Fax: +852 5806 7810 |
30 November 2021
raymond.ng@harneys.com
+852 5806 7883
046880-0005-RLN
Studio City International Holdings Limited
P.O. Box 31119 Grand Pavilion, Hibiscus Way
802 West Bay Road, Grand Cayman, KY1-1205
Cayman Islands
Dear Sirs
STUDIO CITY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED (the Company)
We are lawyers qualified to practise in the Cayman Islands and have acted as Cayman Islands legal advisers to the Company in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form F-3, including all amendments or supplements thereto, and accompanying prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) (the Registration Statement), relating to the proposed issuance of securities of the Company (the Securities).
We are furnishing this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.
For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined the Documents (as defined in Schedule 1). We have not examined any other documents, official or corporate records or external or internal registers and have not undertaken or been instructed to undertake any further enquiry or due diligence in relation to the transaction which is the subject of this opinion.
In giving this opinion we have relied upon the assumptions set out in Schedule 2 which we have not independently verified.
Based solely upon the foregoing examinations and assumptions and upon such searches as we have conducted and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, and subject to the qualifications set out in Schedule 3, we are of the opinion that under the laws of the Cayman Islands, the allotment and issue of the Class A ordinary shares and the preference shares of the Company, and the issue of subscription rights and warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares of the Company, in each case as contemplated by the Registration Statement have been duly authorised and, when allotted, issued and fully paid for in accordance with the Registration Statement, and when the names of the shareholders are entered in the register of members of the Company, the relevant Class A ordinary shares and the preference shares will be validly issued, allotted and fully paid and there will be no further obligation of the holders of any of such shares to make any further payment to the Company in respect of such shares.
| Resident Partners: M Chu | JP Engwirda A Johnstone | P Kay | MW Kwok | IN Mann R Ng | ATC Ridgers | PJ Sephton Bermuda legal services provided through an association with Zuill & Co. |
Anguilla | Bermuda | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands Cyprus | Hong Kong | London | Luxembourg | Montevideo São Paulo | Shanghai | Singapore | Vancouver www.harneys.com |
This opinion is confined to the matters expressly opined on herein and given on the basis of the laws of the Cayman Islands as they are in force and applied by the Cayman Islands courts at the date of this opinion. We have made no investigation of, and express no opinion on, the laws of any other jurisdiction. Except as specifically stated herein, we express no opinion as to matters of fact.
In connection with the above opinion, we hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference made to this firm in the Registration Statement under the headings “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” and “Legal Matters” and elsewhere in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.
This opinion is limited to the matters referred to herein and shall not be construed as extending to any other matter or document not referred to herein.
This opinion shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands.
| Yours faithfully |
| /s/ Harney Westwood & Riegels |
| Harney Westwood & Riegels |
2
SCHEDULE 1
List of Documents and Records Examined
| 1 | the Certificate of Incorporation dated 2 August 2000, the Certificate of Change of Name dated 17 January 2012 and the Certificate of Registration By Way of Continuation dated 15 October 2018; |
| 2 | the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company adopted by Special Resolution dated 15 October 2018; |
| 3 | the register of members and register of directors of the Company provided to us on 25 November 2021; |
Copies of 1-3 above have been provided to us by the Company’s registered office in the Cayman Islands (the Corporate Documents, and together with 4-5 below, the Documents).
| 4 | a copy of the unanimous written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 22 November 2021 approving the Company’s issuance of the Securities (the Resolutions); and |
| 5 | the Registration Statement. |
3
SCHEDULE 2
Assumptions
| 1 | Authenticity of Documents. Copy documents or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals. All original Corporate Documents are authentic, all signatures, initials and seals are genuine, all copies of the Registration Statement are true and correct copies and the Registration Statement conform in every material respect to the latest drafts of the same produced to us and, where the Registration Statement has been provided to us in successive drafts marked-up to indicate changes to such documents, all such changes have been so indicated. |
| 2 | Corporate Documents. All matters required by law to be recorded in the Corporate Documents are so recorded, and all corporate minutes, resolutions, certificates, documents and records which we have reviewed are accurate and complete, and all facts expressed in or implied thereby are accurate and complete as at the date of the passing of the Resolutions. |
| 3 | Conversion. The conversion of any shares in the capital of the Company will be effected via legally available means under Cayman Islands laws, and upon the exercise of the subscription rights and warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares of the Company, the Company will have sufficient authorised but unallotted and unissued Class A ordinary shares for allotment and issue. |
| 4 | No Steps to Wind-up. The directors and shareholders of the Company have not taken any steps to appoint a liquidator of the Company and no receiver has been appointed over any of the Company’s property or assets. |
| 5 | Resolutions. The Resolutions remain in full force and effect. |
| 6 | Unseen Documents. Save for the Corporate Documents provided to us there are no resolutions, agreements, documents or arrangements which materially affect, amend or vary the transactions envisaged in the Registration Statement. |
4
SCHEDULE 3
Qualifications
| 1 | We express no opinion in relation to provisions making reference to foreign statutes in the Registration Statement. |
| 2 | Except as specifically stated herein, we make no comment with respect to any representations and warranties which may be made by or with respect to the Company in any of the documents or instruments cited in this opinion or otherwise with respect to the commercial terms of the transactions the subject of this opinion. |
5
Exhibit 5.2
| 601 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 United States
+1 212 446 4800
www.kirkland.com |
Facsimile: +1 212 446 4900 |
November 30, 2021
Studio City International Holdings Limited
36/F, The Centrium
60 Wyndham Street, Central
Hong Kong
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form F-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen
We have examined the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by Studio City International Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), to register (a) Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (“Class A Ordinary Shares”), including Class A ordinary shares represented by American depositary shares (“ADSs”); (b) preferred shares of the Company (“Preferred Shares”); (c) subscription rights (“Rights”) to purchase Class A ordinary shares of the Company, including those Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs; (d) warrants (“Warrants”) to purchase Class A ordinary shares, preferred shares or ADSs; and (e) debt securities (“Debt Securities”), all of which securities may be issued or sold from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”).
In connection with this opinion, we have assumed that (a) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), relating to the offered securities will have become effective under the Act; (b) a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the securities offered thereby; (c) all offered securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement; (d) if applicable, a definitive purchase, underwriting, sales agency or similar agreement with respect to the offered securities will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (e) any applicable indenture and indenture trustee will have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and (f) any Class A Ordinary Shares, including Class A Ordinary shares represented by ADSs, and preferred shares will be authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (to the extent applicable). We have also assumed that the Company is and will be a company duly incorporated and validly existing as a Cayman Islands exempted company in the Cayman Islands and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
Austin Bay Area Beijing Boston Brussels Chicago Dallas Hong Kong Houston London Los Angeles Munich Paris Salt Lake City Shanghai Washington, D.C.
Studio City International Holdings Limited
November 30, 2021
Page 2
Based on the foregoing, and having regard for such legal considerations as we have deemed relevant, we advise you that:
1. When the Warrants and the related warrant agreement have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate authorization, the related warrant agreement has been duly executed by the parties thereto, and the Warrants have been executed, countersigned, and delivered in accordance with the related warrant agreement against payment therefor, the Warrants will be validly issued and will constitute binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms.
2. When the Rights and the related rights agreement have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate authorization and validly executed and delivered by the parties thereto, and the Rights have been duly executed and issued in accordance with the related rights agreement, the Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
3. When the Debt Securities and the applicable indenture have been authorized by appropriate corporate authorization, the applicable indenture has been duly executed by the parties thereto, and the Debt Securities have been executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the applicable indenture against payment therefore, the Debt Securities will be validly issued and the debt securities will constitute binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms and the terms of the applicable indenture.
Our opinions expressed above 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, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar law or judicially developed doctrine in this area (such as substantive consolidation or equitable subordination) affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, (iv) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies, (v) any requirement that a claim with respect to any security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment denominated in other than U.S. dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined in accordance with applicable law, (vi) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside of the United States or in a foreign currency or currency unit and (vii) any laws except the laws of the State of New York. We advise you that issues addressed by this letter may be governed in whole or in part by other laws, but we express no opinion as to whether any relevant difference exists between the laws upon which our opinions are based and any other laws which may actually govern.
“General principles of equity” include, but are not limited to: principles limiting the availability of specific performance and injunctive relief; principles which limit the availability of a remedy under certain circumstances where another remedy has been elected; principles requiring reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing in the performance and enforcement of an agreement by the party seeking enforcement; principles which may permit a party to cure a material failure to perform its obligations; and principles affording equitable defenses such as waiver, laches and estoppel. We express no opinion with respect to the enforceability of any provision which purports to waive the benefit of usury laws. It is possible that terms in a particular contract covered by our enforceability opinion may not prove enforceable for reasons other than those explicitly cited in this letter should an actual enforcement action be brought, but (subject to all the exceptions, qualifications, exclusions and other limitations contained in this letter) such unenforceability would not in our opinion prevent the party entitled to enforce that contract from realizing the principal benefits purported to be provided to that party by the terms in that contract which are covered by our enforceability opinion.
Studio City International Holdings Limited
November 30, 2021
Page 3
This opinion does not cover the law of any jurisdiction other than the law of the State of New York. We did not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the various states. We undertake no responsibility to update or supplement this opinion in response to changes in law or future events or other circumstances. We have assumed the warrant agreement, rights agreement, depository agreements and indenture referenced in the numbered paragraphs above will be governed by the law of the State of New York.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, other than as to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein.
This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit and may not be used, circulated, quoted relied upon or otherwise referred to by any other person for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
We have relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible.
Studio City International Holdings Limited
November 30, 2021
Page 4
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this opinion in the Registration Statement in the section “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are “experts” within the meaning of the Act.
Yours very truly
/s/ Kirkland & Ellis
KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form F-3) and related prospectus of Studio City International Holdings Limited for the registration of its Class A ordinary shares, including Class A ordinary shares represented by American depositary shares, or ADSs, preferred shares, subscription rights, warrants and debt securities and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated March 31, 2021, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Studio City International Holdings Limited, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Studio City International Holdings Limited, included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young
Hong Kong
November 30, 2021